Cecchettin murder, first hearing. Lawyer: 'Possible Turetta will never show up in court'

Filippo Turetta may never appear in the courtroom in the Venice trial, not only today, but also in future hearings. His defence lawyer, Giovanni Caruso, told reporters: 'Will we never see Filippo Turetta in court?' he was asked: 'It is possible,' was the lawyer's reply. Today there will be the organisational formalities: 'There will be, I have no doubt, the constitution of the civil parties. I cannot anticipate anything about something that is actually destined to be decided by the Court. You know what my tone has been throughout this year, imagine if I anticipate something now'.

The trial however 'is about personal responsibility. It is a trial not on feminicide, but only on Filippo Turetta,' said Venice Prosecutor Bruno Cherchi, who attended the start of the first hearing in the Assize Court for the murder of Giulia Cecchettin. 'This is not a sociological study,' the magistrate added, 'but an ascertainment of responsibility. The trial,' Cherchi concluded, 'must take place in the courtrooms, with respect also for the defendant.

Filippo Turetta before the judges. On Monday 23 September, at 9.30 a.m., in Courtroom C of the Court of Venice, in front of the Court of Assizes presided over by Stefano Manunzio, the trial for the murder of Giulia Cecchettin will begin. The only defendant is ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta, who confessed to the crime and will not be present in court. He is accused of murder aggravated by the emotional relationship with the victim, stalking, premeditation and cruelty. And of kidnapping, concealment of a corpse and carrying a weapon. He faces life imprisonment. A toxic relationship, which suffocated the girl: in less than two years she had received over 225,000 messages, more than 300 a day. Twenty journalists and only RAI cameras were allowed in the courtroom.

Defence counsels Giovanni Caruso and Monica Cornaviera waived the preliminary hearing and anticipated that they would not ask for a psychiatric report. They indicated only one witness. About thirty witnesses, however, for the prosecution in a trial that has little to reveal after the confession. Giulia's father, Gino Cecchettin, will ask to join the civil action, as will his sister Elena and brother Davide. Uncle Alessio and grandmother Carla Gatto will do the same. The municipalities of Vigonovo and Fossò will do the same.

The young student Giulia Cecchettin, 22 years old, just a step away from graduating in biomedical engineering, was killed with 75 stab wounds on the night of 11 November 2023, in the Padovan area between Vigonovo and the industrial area of Fossò. She was due to discuss her thesis five days after the murder, and then move to Reggio Emilia to attend the International School of Comics, where she had already taken some lessons. Giulia had a great passion for drawing and wanted to become an illustrator of children's books. Giulia died of haemorrhagic shock caused by the blow to the head and her injuries.