A date has been set in the trial of Stefano Argentino, accused of the femicide of 22‑year‑old university student Sara Campanella. She was brutally stabbed to death in broad daylight on 31 March.
27‑year‑old Argentino, a former colleague, will appear before the Assize Court of Messina on 10 September, accused of murder with aggravating factors including premeditation and cruelty.
Sara, a nursing student from Misilmeri studying in Messina, was fatally stabbed in the neck by Argentino as she left a clinical internship at the Policlinico Hospital. A chilling CCTV video captured Argentino pursuing, then attacking her in a crowded street, leaving her to collapse amidst onlookers. Despite attempts by witnesses to intervene and efforts by rescue crews, she succumbed to her wounds before medical help arrived.
Argentino fled to his hometown of Noto, where he was arrested hours later by Carabinieri and confessed to the murder. He remains in custody pending trial.
Sara’s family have created a GoFundMe page to create a Foundation in Sara’s name.
Legal proceedings and charges
Chief Prosecutor Antonio D’Amato and Deputy Prosecutor Alice Parialò have filed charges emphasising both premeditation and cruelty, supported by the coroner’s report .
Sara’s defence is represented by Concetta La Torre, while Argentino’s lawyer is Giuseppe Cultrera. The investigating judge has denied a psychiatric assessment for the defendant.
Rising femicide and legal reform
Sara’s death marked one of Italy’s numerous femicides in early 2025, a year that already saw at least 11 women killed by men, often former partners or stalkers. Notably, Sara’s murder occurred just days after the killing of another 22‑year‑old student, Ilaria Sula, sparking national protests and urgent calls for a shift in public policy.
This wave of femicides has coincided with a historic advancement in Italy’s legal framework. On 23 July, the Senate unanimously approved a new Femicide Bill, introducing femicide as a standalone crime punishable by life in prison when committed with gender-based hatred or discrimination. The Bill also restricts privileges for offenders and mandates educational and awareness initiatives targeting gender-based violence
