Italian man convicted of killing Tullamore worker has sentence reduced by two years

The Italian man convicted of killing Tullamore worker Elizabeth Gubbins and her friend Mary Collins in a drunken hit-and-run while they were on holiday in Rome in 2008 has had his seven year sentence reduced to five, the Offaly Independent can reveal. Twenty-seven year old Elizabeth had shortly before her death taken up a job as a biochemist with Tullamore pharmaceutical firm GeneMedix. She was killed along with her friend in the early hours of March 18 when she was hit at speed on a zebra crossing. The two friends had travelled to the Italian capital city for a St Patrick's Day break. Originally from Lisnagry in Co. Limerick, Elizabeth was laid to rest on March 25, 2008 in Castletroy. Thirty-six year old Italian Friedrich Vernarelli was later convicted of manslaughter, driving while drunk and leaving the scene of a crash. In May 2010 he was sentenced to seven years in prison and had this reduced by Italian Court of Appeal judges due to extenuating circumstances. Vernarelli's lawyer said they are considering an appeal to the Italian Supreme Court.