Justice

Garlasco murder: Nordio criticises Stasi conviction without retrial

Justice Minister Nordio challenges Stasi's conviction without a retrial, emphasising the unreasonableness of the decision.

by Enrico Bronzo

26 May 2025

2' min read

Key points

Nordio: no consequences for magistrates old investigation

2' min read

"Granted that, as you know, I cannot, must not, and do not want to talk about current events, what I can say is that I find it unreasonable that after a sentence or two of acquittal, a conviction has taken place without even re-trying the whole trial.

This was said by Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, interviewed by Zona Bianca, on Rete 4, responding to a question on the Garlasco crime and in particular on the fact that, according to Stefano Vitelli, the judge who acquitted Alberto Stasi in 2009 for the murder of Chiara Poggi, reasonable doubt was not applied.

Garlasco, l'impronta di Sempio e gli appunti nella spazzatura riaprono il caso

"This is irrational because, if by law one can only convict beyond reasonable doubt, when one or more judges have already doubted the point to be acquitted, one cannot see how one can convict. This in my opinion is unreasonable and should be changed with a reform, which we tried to do and did halfway,' Nordio added.

Nordio: no consequences for magistrates old investigation

The Minister of Justice, Carlo Nordio, also on Rete 4, speaking about the Garlasco murder case said thatthere will be no consequences for the magistrates of the old investigation should new truths emerge.

'No, absolutely not,' he replied when asked about any consequences for the magistrates of the old investigation.

"In my opinion, there can only be liability if the magistrate either does not know the law or proves not to know the cards. That is precisely why there is a double or triple degree of jurisdiction for all trials in democratic countries, because it is assumed that the verdict can be wrong,' Nordio said.

"I believe that unfortunately at the moment public opinion, the opinion of the citizen towards justice, is quite negative.

In my opinion, more than a fault of the magistrates, it is a fault of the laws. The magistrates administer these laws, which are imperfect and even allow trials to be procrastinated indefinitely even when they should have the courage to close them,' he concluded.