An Italian unemployed man who opened fire outside the prime minister's office in Rome on the day that the new government was sworn in on Sunday had wanted to die, his lawyers said today.
Lawyers Raimondo Paparatti and Mauro Danielli were speaking after a four-hour interrogation of Luigi Preiti, who wounded three people including a police officer who risks being paralysed for life.
"He thought about committing suicide in his hotel room but then changed his mind, thinking that it would be seen as one of many suicides linked to the crisis," Paparatti told reporters.
After being arrested, his lawyers said Preiti had asked police: "Why didn't you shoot me?"
"He had expected his demonstrative action to end with his death," the lawyer said.
Preiti was "deeply shaken and often sobbed" during his interrogation by a judge, he added.
The judge decided to remand Preiti in custody.
