There has been a dramatic new development in the case of Chiara Poggi, the 26-year-old economics graduate murdered at her home in Garlasco (Pavia) in August 2007. On Thursday, an expert report apparently found DNA under two of Poggi’s fingernails compatible with that of Andrea Sempio, a friend of her brother’s.
Alberto Stasi, former boyfriend of Poggi, has served most of a 16-year prison sentence handed down in 2015 for her murder. Now Sempio, 37, faces renewed investigation after being re-indicted earlier this year following forensic tests that reopened the case.
According to the new expert report, one of the male DNA profiles extracted from the fingernail fragments was “perfectly superimposable” on Sempio’s genetic profile. The analysis concerns five male Y-haplotypes identified from the biological material; one matches Sempio’s Y chromosome line.
Yet Sempio’s lawyers say that those reports represent “mere biostatistical data,” not a full forensic conclusion. They argue the DNA under the nails is mixed, degraded and partial — insufficient for individual identification. A consultant for the victim’s family also questioned the reliability of the data.
Decision on admissibility of DNA evidence on 18 December
The decision on whether the DNA evidence is admissible and conclusive rests on an upcoming hearing before the court in Pavia, scheduled for 18 December.
Legal observers say that, even if confirmed, the match does not automatically prove Sempio was the murderer. The presence of male DNA under fingernails could reflect a range of contacts — not necessarily direct involvement in the killing.
For Stasi, currently serving his sentence and authorised work release under day-release conditions, the new evidence has prompted calls from his defence for renewed scrutiny of the case.
The renewed attention on the case underscores the fragility of longstanding verdicts when new forensic methods and evidence arise. For more than 18 years the case seemed closed — now it may be reopened.
