Fatal Bondage Session Leads to Manslaughter Conviction
A 67-year-old architect faces a hefty financial penalty following the death of her 61-year-old lover during a bondage session that turned deadly. Regional transport executive Riccardo Sansebastiano suffocated after being restrained with collars and handcuffs in the attic of Gianna Damonte’s third-floor apartment in Alessandria, Italy.
Prosecutors detailed that Sansebastiano endured hours of agony before his body was discovered in July 2016. The couple, who had maintained an affair for over 20 years, met at her apartment just after lunch to engage in their ritualistic activity.
Details of the Incident
Damonte testified during the trial that Sansebastiano had texted her from her office, arriving with red-painted nails and a fishnet top. They shared a drink before moving to the attic, where he leaned against a post for restraint.
“He asked me to put handcuffs on him, tie him up, and place a collar around his neck,” Damonte stated in court. “I stayed for a bit and then left to return to the office around 2:15 p.m., as he wanted. I returned about three hours later.”
Upon her return, she found him moaning in distress, still bound. She untied him, offered water, attempted CPR, and called paramedics, but efforts to revive him failed. Investigators noted empty alcohol bottles, ropes, a ligature, and high temperatures that day as contributing factors. Damonte described the practice as a “well-worn ritual” they had experimented with for a decade, insisting no danger was anticipated.
Criminal and Civil Court Outcomes
In 2022, a Turin court convicted Damonte of manslaughter, imposing a one-year jail sentence. The judge acknowledged Sansebastiano’s active role in selecting the equipment, noting his contribution to the fatal outcome.
A subsequent civil ruling from Alessandria’s Judge Matteo Martoroni Venturini upheld the manslaughter conviction while assigning 60% responsibility to Sansebastiano. Damonte must compensate his wife, Nicoletta Boido, and their three children £390,000, with fees and interest potentially exceeding £400,000.
Family and Legal Reactions
At Sansebastiano’s church funeral weeks later, his wife addressed mourners: “I am Riccardo’s wife. He was a believer, but I am not. During his agonising death, the details of which you all will know, he will no doubt have found time to reflect upon the error of his ways. But let’s not forget all the good works and gestures that he did for so many.”
Family lawyer Massimo Grattarola expressed satisfaction with the compensation: “We are content with the ruling, except for the suffering endured by the victim, which perhaps could have been increased. However, if there is no appeal, the family will be happy to bring this extremely painful case to an end.”
