Man bags life sentence for killing girlfriend, hiding corpse in garbage bag
Story by Victor Itodo ABUH
An Italian court has sentenced 23-year-old Filippo Turetta to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend, 22-year-old Giulia Cecchettin.
The case, which has brought renewed focus to femicide and violence against women in Italy, highlights the systemic failures in preventing such tragedies.
Turetta admitted to the murder, which occurred in November 2023, just a week before Cecchettin was set to graduate from the University of Padua.
The Venice court found him guilty of multiple charges, including murder, illegal possession of weapons, kidnapping, and concealing a corpse. In addition to the life sentence, Turetta was ordered to pay financial damages to Cecchettin’s family and cover their legal fees.
Read also: Mother-of-two dies during weight loss surgery
After the killing, Turetta disposed of Cecchettin’s body in a ravine, having placed it in garbage bags, and fled the country. He was captured in Germany ten days after her disappearance.
During the verdict, Turetta remained emotionless, staring at the desk as he was flanked by his lawyers. Cecchettin’s father, Gino, who was present in court, refrained from looking at his daughter’s murderer. Gino, who lost his wife to illness in 2022, described feeling “strange” after the verdict. “I’m no more relieved or sad than I was before the verdict,” he stated. “As a father, nothing has changed.”
The prosecution, led by Andrea Petroni, emphasised the premeditated nature of the crime. Turetta had gathered items such as knives, tape, a shovel, garbage bags, and ropes, keeping them in his car for days before committing the murder.
He lured Cecchettin into his car under false pretences, claiming he would stop stalking her and that they could remain friends.
During his 10-week trial, Turetta admitted to both the killing and disposing of the body. He also revealed that he had written a plan, listing items and detailing how he would carry out the crime. However, he insisted he had no intent to kill, claiming the act stemmed from anger and frustration.
“I was angry, I had many thoughts, I felt resentment that we had argued again, that it was a terrible period, that I wanted to get back together and so … I don’t know,” he testified.
Turetta’s defence lawyer, Giovanni Caruso, argued against the life sentence, describing it as “inhumane and degrading.” “He is not Pablo Escobar,” Caruso said, referring to the infamous Colombian drug lord.
Evidence presented in court included a list written by Cecchettin titled “15 reasons I should leave Filippo,” found by her family after her death. The list revealed Turetta’s controlling behaviour and troubling tendencies, including complaints about the number of hearts she sent in messages and his obsession with “justice” for perceived betrayals.
The murder has sparked widespread debate about violence against women in Italy. Government statistics reveal that one woman is killed every three days by a current or former partner. Since Cecchettin’s death, over 106 women have been killed, the youngest being a 13-year-old allegedly pushed off a balcony by her 15-year-old boyfriend in November.
In response, Cecchettin’s family has established the Giulia Cecchettin Foundation to combat violence against women. They have criticised the government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for insufficient action, accusing it of prioritising superficial measures over meaningful reform.
“Giulia was killed by a respectable, white Italian man,” Cecchettin’s sister Elena wrote on social media. “What is the government doing to prevent violence?”
The case continues to resonate as a grim reminder of the urgent need for systemic change to protect women from violence in Italy.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
