Orizontas

August 13, 2007, Italy will remember that day because a quiet town in the north of Italy, Garlasco, was jolted into disbelief by the heinous murder of 26-year-old Chiara Poggi. Chiara’s untimely death reverberated across the nation, igniting one of the most fervently followed criminal cases in recent Italian history.
Alberto Stasi, Chiara’s boyfriend and a successful student at Bocconi University, was appointed as the killer. After years of trial and appeals, he was convicted of her murder in 2009. Many Italians who had closely followed the case found the conviction brought relief and for the family, that hope and justice had finally been served.
Yet doubts remained. Questions about the handling of evidence, inconsistencies in testimonies, and alleged investigative errors clouded the case from the start. Too many people entered the house, stepping on the victim’s blood, and used their bare hands that day. Defence teams challenged the verdict through years of appeals, fighting to reopen the investigation and seek a clearer picture of the truth.
The killer does not take even one step of the 13 stairs leading to the tavern. He stops at the door, throws Chiara’s body, and then cleans the bloody hands in the bathroom, the palm prints – never analysed – still imprinted on the soap dispenser.
The case became a national drama, and the imperfection of the Italian justice system (see Meredith Kercher Murder), where the demand for swift resolution often clashes with the complexity of proving guilt beyond a doubt. Public opinion remained divided for years, as everyone has put their heart into standing for the truth.
For Alberto Stasi, the aftermath has been catastrophic. Convicted in his youth, he has forfeited his freedom, his future, and the chance to lead a life beyond courtrooms and prison walls. Meanwhile, Chiara’s family has been left with a gaping void, yearning for answers and closure.
Five trials have occurred, resulting in two acquittals in the first instance and on appeal. After more than sixteen years, the case has now been reopened.
Luckily, forensic technology has advanced, and a renewed review of the evidence presents the possibility of uncovering new truths. The reopening of the case emphasises that justice is not a perfect machine, one that must remain open to new information and be willing to correct past mistakes, as well as be aware of future investigations, rather than pursuing an advancement in career while putting innocent people in jail.

Unresolved cases take on both victims’ families and the accused; it delays justice, which is often justice denied, killing the victims several times. As the investigation begins anew, there is cautious hope that, after years of pain and uncertainty, the truth will finally emerge, bringing clarity and perhaps peace to all those affected.

Re-examination provides more uncertainty at the moment, as it involves more people who were not suspects at the time. An imprint, previously deemed non-useful and overlooked, now has a name—Andrea Sempio, a friend of Chiara’s younger brother, who used to visit and play on their computer at their family’s villa. This imprint is placing the entire case at risk and forcing the nation to choose which side to support.

In the meantime, Chiara’s uncle, Ermanno Cappa, a prominent lawyer, made some calls that were intercepted by investigators. He sought support from politicians to silence one of Italy’s most popular journalists, Vittorio Feltri, who has consistently advocated for the innocence of Alberto Stasi. Ermanno is the father of one of Chiara’s cousins’ twins, Stefania Cappa, who is now married to Emanuele Arioldi.

One witness reported seeing Stefania leaving with a black lady’s bicycle that day, carrying a heavy bag. Another witness recalled her going to her grandmother’s house to ask for the key to a neighbour’s place before hearing a significant splash in the water. Why is the father of the twins using his position to silence suspects regarding his daughter and threaten witnesses with accusations of calumny?

The entire nation is closely watching the evolution of this case, and Chiara’s family is again struggling for the truth.