Italy's "black widow", the wealthy socialite who paid a hit man to murder her husband, the multi-millionaire heir to the Gucci fashion empire, has refused to leave jail on day release because she will not lower herself to do a menial job.

Patrizia Reggiani has been in jail ever since being convicted of the killing in 1998. More than a decade later, she has the prospect of day release from Milan's San Vittore prison, if she will accept a menial job such as working as a waitress.

Patrizia Reggiani ... "I've never worked in my life and I'm certainly not going to start now." Credit:Reuters

But the 63-year-old, whose extravagant tastes included spending 10,000 euro ($13,430) a month on orchids, told a court in Milan: "I've never worked in my life and I'm certainly not going to start now."

Her peremptory refusal of the day release deal echoed one of her more famous quotes: "I would rather weep in a Rolls-Royce than be happy on a bicycle."