Filippo Turetta, the ex-boyfriend of Giulia Cecchettin, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of the 22-year-old university student. Cecchettin’s tragic death, which involved over 70 stab wounds, brought national attention to the issue of femicide in Italy.
Cecchettin’s body was discovered wrapped in black plastic bags and discarded in a ditch near a lake north of Venice in November 2023. Her death sparked widespread protests across the country, highlighting the growing problem of violence against women.
Turetta, 24, was arrested in Germany on November 19, 2023, the day after Cecchettin’s body was found. In court, Turetta confessed that he had planned to kidnap and murder Cecchettin after she refused to reconcile with him.
The court ruled that Turetta’s actions were particularly brutal, and he was sentenced to life in prison. The judges also ordered him to pay €760,000 in compensation to Cecchettin’s family. Prosecutor Andrea Petroni had argued for the life sentence, citing the severity of the crime.
Turetta’s defense lawyer, Giovanni Caruso, argued that the sentence was too harsh, comparing his client to notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Cecchettin, a biomedical engineering student, disappeared on November 11, 2023, after going to a shopping mall in Marghera with Turetta to buy a dress for her graduation. A week-long police search led to the discovery of a surveillance video showing Turetta attacking Cecchettin, who was trying to escape before being forced back into the car.
In an emotional statement, Cecchettin’s father, Gino, said that “justice has been done according to the laws in force,” but added that “as a society, we have all lost.” He expressed his disappointment over Turetta’s lawyer’s comparison of the case to Escobar, stating that it humiliated his daughter’s memory.
Cecchettin’s uncle, Andrea Camerotto, also spoke out, declaring that he would never forgive Turetta or anyone who harms women.
Cecchettin and Turetta’s relationship had ended in August 2023, after a year of increasing jealousy and control. Cecchettin’s sister, Elena, revealed that Turetta had become possessive after Cecchettin planned to meet a male friend, and though he had not been physically violent before, he could not accept the end of their relationship.
In honor of Cecchettin’s memory, a foundation was established last month. Tragically, since her death, 106 other women in Italy have been killed by men, with most of the suspects being current or former partners.
