Frustration erupted from Gian Luigi Tizzoni, the lawyer representing Chiara Poggi’s family, during scientific hearings in the reopened investigation into her 2004 murder. Tizzoni publicly criticized the Pavia Prosecutor’s Office for rejecting his request to include “Trace 33” – a fingerprint found on the wall of the Garlasco cottage attributed to suspect Andrea Sempio, a friend of the victim’s brother – in the ongoing evidentiary hearing.
“The Code requires the Prosecutor’s Office to conduct investigations also in the interest of the suspect. The Pavia Prosecutor’s Office extended them for the benefit of the convicted person [Alberto Stasi] but does not accept the requests of the victim,” Tizzoni stated after a technical hearing. At this hearing, Judge Daniela Garlaschelli appointed expert Domenico Marchigiani to search for and analyze any fingerprints on breakfast trash left by Chiara Poggi and adhesive lifting sheets collected after the murder. So far, only a fingerprint belonging to Alberto Stasi, Chiara’s boyfriend at the time of the crime and now definitively sentenced to 16 years, has been found on an iced tea container.
Giada Bocellari, one of Stasi’s lawyers, promptly countered: “I believe this Prosecutor’s Office proceeds in the interest of justice.” Bocellari clarified that during the hearing, the judge asked if parties agreed to extend the fingerprint analysis to include comparisons with other individuals using the acetate lifting sheets. “Sempio’s defense firmly opposed it,” Bocellari reported. “The victims’ legal representatives also opposed because they had requested the inclusion of Trace 33. There’s a substantial difference: the lifting sheets were already part of this evidentiary hearing for genetic analysis, whereas Trace 33 is outside of it.”
Sempio’s defense, led by lawyer Angela Taccia, unsuccessfully opposed the trash examination. Taccia reiterated her position: “I repeated that if the prerequisite of a proper seizure is lacking, there shouldn’t even be genetic testing.” She noted genetic tests had already cleared Sempio, but the judge wanted all possible checks done for certainty, adding Sempio “has the serenity of innocence.”
Genetic testing will resume in early August when expert Denise Albani returns from vacation. This includes analysis of the so-called “Unknown 3,” unidentified DNA found on gauze used during body swabs. Investigators are working to determine if it belongs to someone other than Sempio or Stasi or is contamination. They are comparing it against a list of individuals who had contact with Chiara’s body post-mortem or were Sempio’s friends. Recent contamination among those involved in the current forensic work has been ruled out.
The focal point remains the analysis of two genetic profiles found under the 26-year-old victim’s fingernails, one of which prosecutors believe belongs to Sempio. This key element will be debated starting October 24th.
Objectives of the Evidentiary Hearing**
The hearing also involves searching for fingerprints on the 18-year-old trash remnants (tea packaging, cereal, yogurt). The Pavia Prosecutor’s Office requested this dactyloscopic extension after initial checks suggested a probable fingerprint on the iced tea container. Prior examinations found only DNA from Stasi and Poggi on these items, yielding nothing useful for the new case against Sempio. While fingerprint analysis proceeds under Marchigiani, genetic testing by Albani pauses until August.