In a shocking decision, the L'Aquila Court of Appeal has upheld a 2022 ruling that absolves the Italian government of responsibility for the deaths of seven students during the 2009 earthquake.

The court not only denied compensation to the victims' families but also ordered them to pay nearly €14,000 in legal fees.

The judges ruled that the students' deaths resulted from their own 'reckless conduct' rather than reassurances from the Major Risks Commission, which met days before the quake.

This verdict contradicts an earlier criminal case where one official was convicted for providing overly reassuring statements.

The families are likely to appeal to Italy's Supreme Court, as the ruling suggests insufficient evidence linking official reassurances to the students' actions on the night of the earthquake.