Carabinieri Colonel Lorenzo D'Aloia shows a picture of the knife used to stab Carabinieri's officer Mario Cerciello Rega, during a press conference in Rome, Tuesday, July 30, 2019. Two American teenagers were jailed in Rome on Saturday as authorities investigate their alleged roles in the fatal stabbing of the Italian police officer on a street near their hotel. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press
MILAN (AP) - A lawyer for an American teenager jailed in Rome in connection with the fatal stabbing of an Italian police officer has petitioned a court for his client's release.
Attorney Renato Borzone on Monday confirmed he filed a request to get 19-year-old Finnegan Lee Elder out of Regina Coeli prison.
Another lawyer made a similar request last week on behalf of Elder's friend, 18-year-old Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth.
The two Californians are being held while prosecutors probe the July 26 slaying of 35-year-old plainclothes officer Mario Cerciello Rega.
Prosecutors contend Elder stabbed Cerciello Rega during a scuffle while Natale-Hjorth allegedly punched and kicked the officer's partner.
The Carabinieri officers were investigating an alleged extortion attempt involving the teens and a stolen knapsack.
It's unclear when a court might hear the petitions to free the Americans.
A police car stations in front of the Meridien hotel in Rome, where two suspects from California, Finnegan Lee Elder, 19, and Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, 18, were arrested hours after Deputy Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, was knifed 11 times to his death, Wednesday, July 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Paolo Santalucia)
The Associated Press
Family members of Finnegan Elder embrace as their family attorney Craig Peters, unseen, speaks to members of the media in front of their home in San Francisco on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019. Elder is one of two American teenagers jailed in Rome as authorities investigate their alleged roles in the fatal stabbing of an Italian police officer on a street near their hotel. (AP Photo/Josh Edelson)
The Associated Press
Ethan Elder, father of Finnegan Lee Elder who is in custody for the slaying of Carabinieri officer Mario Cerciello Rega, arrives at Regina Celi prison in Rome, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. Two American teenagers were jailed in Rome on Saturday as authorities investigate their alleged roles in the fatal stabbing of the Italian police officer on a street near their hotel. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
Ethan Elder, left, father of Finnegan Lee Elder, in custody for the slaying of Carabinieri officer Mario Cerciello Rega, and attorney Craig Peters arrrive at Regina Celi prison in Rome, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019. Two American teenagers were jailed in Rome on Saturday as authorities investigate their alleged roles in the fatal stabbing of the Italian police officer on a street near their hotel. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The Associated Press
This picture released by Italian Carabinieri during a press conference in Rome, Tuesday, July 30, 2019, shows the knife used to stab Carabinieri's officer Mario Cerciello Rega early Friday. Two American teenagers were jailed in Rome on Saturday as authorities investigate their alleged roles in the fatal stabbing of the Italian police officer on a street near their hotel. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The Associated Press