Italian prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation against a policeman involved in yesterday's fatal shooting of an anti-capitalist protester at the Group of Eight summit, Italian judicial sources said today.
The death of 23-year-old Genoa resident Mr Carlo Giuliani overshadowed the opening of the three-day summit and triggered appeals for calm by G8 leaders as fresh protests were planned.
Judicial sources said prosecutors had begun proceedings that could lead to manslaughter charges against the paramilitary officer who fired the shots that killed Giuliani. The policemen, who has not been named, was being treated in a Genoa hospital.
"He is to be placed under investigation on suspicion of manslaughter, as is usual in such cases," a source said.
He said the investigation would also, however, study whether the policeman had acted in legitimate self defence.