A trial investigating the death of 65-year-old Romanian shepherd Gheorghe Dumitru on the Rascino plateau in Rieti has been delayed until December. The postponement was granted to allow authorities more time to locate a crucial missing witness who discovered the victim’s body.
Trial Delayed Over Missing Key Witness in Shepherd’s Death
Judge Ludovica Capece Minutolo del Sasso accepted a defense motion presented by attorney Sara Principessa. The lawyer argued that police searches for the missing Romanian farmworker—who was scheduled to testify—had not been sufficiently thorough in Romania, and that diplomatic channels had not yet been utilized to track him down.
The 2022 Investigation in Fiamignano
The criminal proceeding stems from the 2022 death of Dumitru in Fiamignano. Prosecutors charged the local agricultural entrepreneur and employer with unauthorized labor intermediation and labor exploitation, commonly known as “caporalato.”
Dumitru was found unresponsive inside his living quarters on the plateau. Prosecutors allege the local farm owner employed the shepherd without an employment contract, denying him legal, pension, and insurance protections.
The Search for the Discoverer of the Body
Finding the missing colleague is essential to the courtroom proceedings because he was the person who found Dumitru dead inside a trailer on the Rascino plateau where the shepherd lived. If the witness cannot be located or formally served before the December hearing, the court will instead admit the initial statement he provided to the Carabinieri immediately following the discovery of the body.
Wages, Conditions, and Exploitation Allegations
According to the Rieti Public Prosecutor’s Office, led by prosecutor Edoardo Capizzi, Dumitru received a deferred seasonal wage of 850 euros. Prosecutors state this amount fell far below collective bargaining agreements and was entirely disproportionate to the quantity and quality of the work performed.
Investigators assert the employment conditions violated regulations concerning working hours, rest periods, and annual leave. The work reportedly extended from dawn until dusk without mandatory health screenings or safety equipment.
Vulnerability and Prosecution’s Indictment
The prosecution’s indictment also alleges that the employer took advantage of Dumitru’s vulnerable status. According to case filings, the victim was a foreign worker supporting a family in Romania, possessed limited knowledge of the Italian language, had a low level of education, and faced an urgent need to maintain his livelihood.
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