An Italian policeman is to be charged with "voluntary homicide" in relation to the shooting incident which claimed the life of a Lazio fan at the weekend, according to his lawyer.

The policeman, named in the Italian media as Luigi Spaccarotella, has admitted firing the shot, according to his lawyer, Francesco Molino.

In remarks reported by www.gazzetta.it, Molino said: "Lugi has always admitted firing the shot but in an accidental manner."

Molino claimed that he had been informed that the investigating magistrate would file a formal charge of "voluntary homicide" against his client.

Gabriele Sandri, 26, was shot at a motorway service station near Arezzo after police had intervened in skirmishes involving rival football fans.

Ennio Di Cicco, the chief prosecutor of the Arezzo jurisdiction, told www.gazzetta.it: "This traffic policeman fired the shot at the height of a human being, that is a certified fact.

"We don't know the motives but whatever they are it's an unforgivable act. The gun is a last resort, even for members of the security forces: unless someone has pointed a pistol at you, you cannot shoot."

Di Cicco also claimed that police had found weapons including knives at the service station.

He said: "They clearly belonged to the occupants of the car where the dead man was."

He exonerated the other group of supporters, believed to be Juventus fans, of blame for any trouble.

"It looks like the others were victims of aggression," he said.