Filippo Turetta received a sentence of life imprisonment on Tuesday for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Giulia Cecchettin, in a case that shocked Italy and sparked a national reckoning on femicide and gender violence.
Turetta, who turned 22 last December, admitted to stabbing Cecchettin, also 22, 75 times on November 11, 2023, in Fossò, near Venice. The attack took place just days before Cecchettin was set to graduate from Padua University with a degree in biomedical engineering. Turetta was on the same course.
Cecchettin’s disappearance was reported on the day of the murder after she had met Turetta for a meal. Her body was discovered a week later in a gully at Val Caltea, near Lake Barcis in Friuli. By then, Turetta had fled the country. He was apprehended near Leipzig, Germany, after running out of money and fuel.
Turetta appeared in court on Tuesday, as did Giulia’s father, Gino Cecchettin, who was among the civil plaintiffs in the trial. At her funeral in December, Gino expressed hope that his daughter’s tragic death might become a catalyst for addressing the pervasive issue of gender-based violence in Italy.
Turetta’s defence lawyer sparked outrage in his final summation, arguing that a life sentence was unwarranted. He said, stating, “He is not El Chapo or Pablo Escobar.” This comparison to infamous drug lords was widely condemned as insensitive, given the brutality of the crime.
Aggravating circumstances of cruelty and stalking excluded
The judges excluded the aggravating circumstances of cruelty and the crime of threats, provided for by article 612 bis of the penal code (i.e. stalking), unified by the constraint of continuation. The reasons will be filed within 90 days.
President of the Panel Stefano Manduzio read the sentence of the Assize Court of Venice. Turetta did not show any reaction and police took him away immediately afterwards.
In addition to the legal interdictions, the court ordered compensation for the civil parties with the payment of a provisional sum of €500,000 to Gino Cecchettin, €100,000 each to the siblings Elena and Davide, €30,000 each to the grandmother Carla Gatto and uncle Alessio, in addition to the legal costs. The judges of Venice also ordered the release of Giulia’s personal effects.
Family’s reaction to the verdict
In his statement following the sentencing of Turetta, Gino Cecchettin made the following statement.
“We have all lost, as a society. No one will give me Giulia back; I am neither more relieved nor sadder than yesterday. It is clear justice has been done, but we should do more as human beings. And gender violence must be fought with prevention, not with punishment. As a human being I feel defeated, as a father nothing has changed compared to yesterday or a year ago.
“This is not the place to honour Giulia’s memory. Today was a necessary step to respect the laws we have given ourselves as a civil society. Now we are trying to move forward.
“I will dedicate myself to the Foundation.” When asked what he thought of the exclusion of the aggravating circumstances of cruelty and stalking he replied, “There will be discussion.”
To those who ask him if he expected the defendant’s apology in court, his reply is dry: “I didn’t expect an apology, I don’t expect an apology, my path is different. I have lost everything, so I will continue with my path. Today was a necessary step to respect those laws that we have given ourselves as a civil society. This step has been reached and now we move forward trying not to find ourselves here again with another father, other journalists and with another Giulia”.
Giulia’s grandmother spoke of the pain she will take to her grave. “We certainly can’t say we’re satisfied with a sentence, we have our pain and we’ll take it with us to the grave. You don’t feel anything anymore.”
Lawyers present their assessment of the Turetta sentence
Nicodemo Gentile , civil party lawyer for Elena Cecchettin, spoke after the sentencing. “The judges’ decision not to recognise the aggravating circumstance of stalking is a step backwards .
“The seriousness of the behaviour remains, there is no satisfaction, it is a defeat for everyone. We are waiting 90 days for the reasons, our thoughts are with Giulia,” concluded the lawyer.
Stefano Tigani, civil party lawyer for Gino Cecchettin said: “A sentence that we frankly expected, we will read the reasons. From the point of view of compensation, the request has been satisfied. Nobody wins today”.
“The end of a trial is an assessment that will see degrees of appeal, and we will have to fight there too. Life imprisonment has a very serious aggravating factor, I am convinced that this sentence will pass unscathed through the subsequent degrees”.
Politicians react to the Turetta sentence of life imprisonment
Carolina Morace (M5S): “The Sentence Is Appropriate, but Prevention Is Key”
Carolina Morace, MEP for the Five Star Movement, emphasised the importance of addressing societal causes of gender violence.
“While this life sentence recognises the gravity of Giulia’s murder, it cannot bring her back to her family. Our society must reflect on the patriarchal culture that continues to demean the freedom and dignity of women. Gender violence isn’t fought in courtrooms but through prevention and the cultivation of respect. Classrooms and sports venues must become spaces for transformative education, and it is our duty as politicians to build a better society. Only then can we truly honour Giulia’s memory.”
Luca Zaia (President of the Veneto Region): “The Only Right Sentence”
Veneto Governor Luca Zaia expressed solidarity with Giulia’s family, saying:
“This could only be the right sentence for Giulia’s murder. My thoughts are with her relatives and friends. As Giulia’s father said, ‘Today no one won.’ This reflects what we all feel.”
Vanessa Camani (PD): “Justice Alone Cannot Heal the Wound”
Vanessa Camani, leader of the Democratic Party in Veneto’s Regional Council, highlighted the need for cultural change:
“This sentence satisfies the need for justice, but it does not heal the wound of a life taken simply for being a woman. Giulia’s father is right: today we have all lost. We bear the collective responsibility of creating a society where such tragedies no longer occur.”
Matteo Salvini (Lega): “Now I’ll make Turetta work hard in prison”
“Right. Now it would be right to force him to work hard, in prison, to avoid his stay in jail being completely at the expense of Italians.”
