American Students Sentenced to Life After Killing Italian Police
A view of the exterior of Rome's criminal court before the start of the trial of US teenagers Hjorth And Elder, on February 26, 2020 in Rome, Italy. Today is the start of the trial of US teenagers Finnegan Lee Elder, 20 years old and Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, 18 years old, who are accused of killing the Italian Carabieniere officer Mario Cerciello Rega on 25 July, 2019. Antonio Masiello/Getty Images

Two American students were sentenced to life imprisonment in Italy after reportedly stabbing an Italian police officer 11 times, killing him.

This was after a drug deal while the American students were vacationing in Rome in 2019.

Finnegan Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, were charged for the death of Italian police officer Carabiniere Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, according to a Fox News report.

Aside from the charges for killing the Italian cop, Elder and Natale-Hjorth were also charged extortion for stealing a backpack from a go-between.

Elder was also found guilty of carrying a knife, which was used to fatally stab Rega. The six members of the jury deliberated for more than 10 hours after finishing the trial on Wednesday.

A state funeral was held for the officer. Prosecutor aria Sabina Calabretta said that the cop was killed in a "disproportionate and deadly attack."

Elder told his lawyer that he is stressed before kissing a crucifix he wears on a neck chain and pointing it towards the sky.

The two suspects' parents were present in the court, according to The Guardian report.

Rosa Maria Esilio, Rega's widow, broke down in tears when the court announced the verdict.

Esilio's lawyer, Franco Coppi, said that they are human beings who also suffer, although deserve punishment.

"Notwithstanding the fact that there is a dead man who deserves all the pity, the fact that two people are going to prison is not a reason for anyone to rejoice," Coppi was quoted in a report.

The Incident

Natale-Hjorth was visiting Italian relatives near Rome when he met up with Elder. Elder was traveling through Europe on Jul. 26, 2019.

Elder and Natale-Hjorth were in the Prati district of Rome when Rega and his colleague, Andrea Varriale, were present and confronted the two American students.

Rega and Varriale were both in plain clothes and without their service pistols when the incident took place.

Elder and Natale-Hjorth had insisted they thought the two police officers were criminals out to get them and that they acted in self-defense.

The students had earlier contacted a middleman to buy cocaine in Trastevere, which is a popular nightlife area.

The middleman took them to a drug dealer for "cocaine" but had given them aspirin instead.

As retaliation, the students took the middleman's bag and fled before demanding a cash ransom and cocaine in exchange for the bag.

The middleman has arranged to meet them, but he had already contacted the police to report the theft.

Elder said that he wanted to apologize to Rega's family and friends.

"If I could go back and change things, I would do it now, but I can't," Elder was quoted in an NBC News report.

Elder's lawyer, Renato Borzone, said that they would appeal and hope for a more reasonable judge next time.

Borzone said that to give life sentences to two 19-year-old boys is shameful, noting that Italy's justice is strong with the weak, and weak with the strong.

Rega's funeral was held in a church, where he had been married just six weeks earlier.

WATCH: 2 Americans get life in prison for murder in Italy - from CBS Evening News