ROME, May 9 (Xinhua) -- An Italian man who wounded six Nigerian immigrants during a racist shooting spree went on trial in the central city of Macerata on Wednesday.
Luca Traini, 28, faces upwards of 15 years in prison if found guilty of charges including attempted mass murder and illegal weapons detention aggravated by racist hatred.
Traini's defense tried to argue he was "partially mentally unfit" at the time of the attack, Sky TG24 reported.
On Feb. 3, Traini went on a drive-by shooting rampage targeting immigrants in various parts of Macerata, then drove to a monument, gave the Fascist salute, wrapped himself in the Italian flag, and awaited arrest.
A search of his home turned up a copy of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's autobiography "Mein Kampf" and various Nazi memorabilia.
In 2017, Traini ran for local office as a candidate of the League, a rightwing anti-immigrant party that did very well in Italy's March 4 general election and whose leader, Matteo Salvini, may become the next prime minister of Italy.
Traini's rampage, which caused what local media described as scenes of "panic in the streets", took place during a court hearing for Innocent Oseghale, a Nigerian drug dealer accused of killing and dismembering 18-year-old Italian drug addict Pamela Mastropietro, stuffing her body parts into two trolleys and dumping them in the countryside.
Macerata Prosecutor Giovanni Giorgio told RAI public broadcaster at the time that Traini stated he initially wanted to kill Oseghale in court, then "changed his mind" and decided to go on a shooting spree instead.
He fired at least 30 shots from a semi-automatic Glock pistol, aiming at strangers.
"I wanted to avenge Pamela," Traini reportedly told police interrogators. "Illegal immigration must be stopped."
From jail, Traini sent flowers to Mastropietro's funeral, which was held in Rome on May 5 and was attended by various Italian politicians, the Nigerian ambassador to Italy, and the president of the Nigerian community in Italy.