Lucrezia Ciotti Topics Covered
Eighteen years after the murder of Chiara Poggi Garlasco, a maxi kicks off evidentiary incident which aims to re-examine with the most advanced techniques the findings collected at the time. A delicate and complex work, marked by tensions between consultants and experts, which could bring to light new elements useful for shedding light on one of the most controversial judicial cases of recent decades.
Garlasco, Sempio's lawyers absent on the first day of the evidentiary hearing
Among those absent on the first day of evidentiary incident were the lawyers of Andrea Sempio, the current suspect. Lawyer Angela Taccia explained in a press release that she considered her presence unnecessary, confiding fully within the capabilities and professionalism of the consultant General Garofano. He stressed that the technical operations related to genetic tests are the responsibility of the experts and their respective consultants, who have the appropriate training in the matter. He added that he firmly believes that everyone should limit themselves to their own skills, to avoid creating further confusion and media hype.
Garlasco, the “97f” footprint in the crosshairs
In the new investigation by the Pavia Public Prosecutor's Office, the fingerprint called "97f" is considered a fundamental element. According to the investigators, this trace would be compatible with the attacker's left hand, although it does not seem to be attributable to Andrea Sempio, the only new suspect in the case. In 2007, the Parma RIS had classified that same footprint as a trace of blood, found on the left wall of the stairs leading to the tavern of the villa on Via Pascoli, where Chiara Poggi's body was found.
Lawyer Giada Bocellari, Stasi's defender, confirmed that the findings were correctly preserved and stressed the need to examine trace "97f". Instead, Dario Radaelli, consultant for the Poggi family, expressed doubts, defining the footprint is more of a swipe than a real trace and criticizing the media use of the new evidence. According to him, the Prosecutor's Office considers it a bloody hand, but many doubts remain on this.
Garlasco, from imprint 33 to the para-adhesives: the gaps in the evidentiary incident
It took more than a day to complete the major evidentiary incident relating to the crime of Garlasco, aimed at isolating DNA from "biological samples" and findings never analyzed or with uncertain results, preserved for 18 years after the murder of Chiara Poggi.
At the Milan Police Headquarters, eleven experts among surveyors of the court of Pavia and consultants of the prosecution and defense worked together in the expert operations: the forensic technicians appointed by the investigating judge Daniela Garlaschelli, Denise Albani and Domenico Marchegiani, opened two boxes delivered last week by the Forensic Medicine Unit of the University of Pavia and the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri of Milan in via Moscova. It will therefore be necessary dedicate additional days to ascertain which finds are still usable in the investigation that sees Andrea Sempio under investigation for the murder of Chiara Poggi.
According to initial rumours, from fingerprints analyzed, no traces of blood emerged. Of a total of thirty bands containing fingerprints, 18 were examined, including number 10, from which 24 DNA samples were taken without, however, detecting the presence of blood.
THE'"Papillary imprint number 10”, found on the inside of the entrance door of the Poggi villa, represents a relevant element in the new investigation. It is in fact a presumed “dirty hand” left by the murderer, which at the time of the crime was not subjected to any biological analysis. A recent fingerprint consultation has also ruled out that the print belongs to Sempio or Alberto Stasi.
Le first activities were concentrated on the verification of the chain of custody of the finds, including fragments of a bath mat, tea bags, cereals, biscuits, yogurt and garbage bags, comparing the delivery reports with the actual contents of sealed boxes and envelopes. Subsequently, the phase of acquisition of possible biological residues from the 35 para-adhesive strips used in 2007 by the RIS to collect the fingerprints in the villa on Via Pascoli was started.
However, it will not be examined track number 33, the footprint attributed by the Prosecutor's Office to Sempio and taken from the second right wall of the stairs leading to the basement where the victim's body was found, since the test tube containing that sample would not have been found.
A road map has been defined for the investigations to be carried out in the cross-examination within the 90 days granted by the investigating judge, with the delivery of the final report scheduled for September 17 and the hearing discussion set for October 24.