Unraveling the Mystery of Nanny Carol
As 21-year-old Carol Compton entered the courtroom and made her way to the defendant's dock, a frenzy erupted among the journalists. The sound of camera shutters clicking and flashing lights filled the room, despite the court's orders banning photographers. Carol, with her pale face and unbroken smile, continued to chew gum nonchalantly. Her mother approached her, leaning in to kiss her through the bars, whispering, "You’re not scared, are you? You’ve waited so long for this day. Prove your innocence."
The Charges Against Carol
Carol had been detained on the Italian island of Elba since August 1982, accused of arson and attempted murder. After 16 months, she was finally brought to trial in December 1983, amidst rumors spread by the Italian press that she was a witch.
Carol’s Story
Carol, a Scottish-born nanny, was working for an Italian family. The charges against her included causing two fires in the house, the second of which nearly took the life of a three-year-old child. However, the press was less focused on the arson charges and more on the mysterious and inexplicable occurrences that seemed to follow Carol wherever she went.
The Courtroom Chaos
The courtroom consisted of six judges and two forensic experts. From the outset, the trial was marked by chaos and confusion, particularly due to poor translation. Carol occasionally resorted to expressing herself in broken Italian, using the few Italian words she knew. British Embassy officials also protested the inaccuracies in the translation of her statements from English to Italian. Adding to the disorder was the fact that journalists disregarded the court's instructions.
Witness Testimonies and Expert Explanations
Despite these challenges, the trial proceeded, and the topic of witchcraft was brought to the forefront. A former employer from Rome testified that strange things happened whenever Carol was present.
Supernatural Events
The former employer described supernatural events such as a vase falling and shattering, or a picture falling off the wall without anyone touching it. She also accused Carol of causing three mysterious fires in her home during Carol’s previous employment. A forensic expert from the University of Pisa explained that the falling objects could have been coincidences, but he was unable to account for the fires, which appeared to have been caused by extremely high temperatures without any visible flames.
More Strange Occurrences
Subsequently, the grandmother of the family Carol was working for on Elba testified that strange things began happening immediately after Carol’s arrival. She recounted how a plate inexplicably fell and broke, and claimed that on that day, she exclaimed, “Oh heavens, there are ghosts in our house!”
The Prosecutor’s Approach
Throughout the trial, the prosecutor attempted to steer clear of the topics of witchcraft and sorcery, focusing instead on the charges of arson and attempted murder. He criticized the press for influencing the trial and shifting the focus toward mysterious occurrences and witchcraft.
A Sentence of Seven Years
In the end, the prosecutor requested a seven-year prison sentence for Carol, citing her role in starting the fires, though he admitted he was unsure of her motives. The defense also avoided the subject of witchcraft and instead focused on refuting the charges.
Carol's Release
At the conclusion of the trial, Carol was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for attempting to start fires in her current and former employers’ homes. However, because she had already spent a significant amount of time in detention prior to the trial, Carol was released and allowed to return to her homeland of Scotland.