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Roma fan gets 26 years for killing Napoli rival before 2014 Coppa Italia

The Roma supporter found guilty of murdering a Napoli fan prior to the 2014 Coppa Italia final has been sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Daniele De Santis shot Ciro Esposito amid clashes between fans in Rome, which took place before the final between Napoli and Fiorentina on May 3, 2014.

According to a police reconstruction of the events, De Santis fired at Napoli fans four times as he fled from attacks, hitting Esposito in one of his lungs. Esposito died 53 days later.

Two Napoli fans who attacked De Santis during the melee have been sentenced to eight months in prison.

In addition to a lengthy prison sentence, De Santis has been ordered to pay damages of €140,000 to Esposito's family.

"Justice has been done, but to say we are satisfied is going too far," Antonella Leardi, Esposito's mother, said in La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Let this be a lesson so that what happened to my son never happens again. My life is not the same and nothing can make up for losing my son, but I've never said a nasty word because I don't have any hate within me. I've already forgiven De Santis."

The cup final was delayed as news of the shooting reached Napoli fans inside the Stadio Olimpico, and some of their supporters threatened to disrupt the match until a meeting between their captain, Marek Hamsik, and a head of the ultra fans' group enabled the game to take place. Napoli beat Fiorentina 3-1.

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