Life imprisonment for Alessandro Impagnatiello for the femicide of Giulia Tramontano.

Milano – On the International Day Against Violence against Women, the Court of Assizes of Milano has issued a sentence that is a symbol of justice: Alessandro Impagnatiello, 31, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend Giulia Tramontano, a 29-year-old woman who was seven months pregnant with their son, Thiago. The sentence also includes three months of daytime isolation and financial compensation to the victim's family, marking a significant conclusion in one of the most closely watched trials in recent years.

A long and painful process

The verdict was pronounced after a trial lasting 13 hearings, which began in January 2024. Judge Antonella Bertoja, president of the Court, read the sentence that found Impagnatiello guilty of voluntary homicide, premeditated and aggravated by cruelty and cohabitation with the victim. The prosecution had asked for life imprisonment, including 18 months of solitary confinement, a sentence partially accepted by the judges.

The defendant, described during the trial as a “narcissist, psychopathic and lying” man by forensic experts, remained impassive during the reading of the sentence. For Giulia’s family, however, the moment was heartbreaking but liberating. “Revenge does not exist,” Giulia’s mother, Loredana Femiano, said in tears, underlining the irreparable pain of losing her daughter and grandson.

A heinous crime

The details of the crime have shocked public opinion. On May 27, 2023, in their home in Senago, in the Milan area, Impagnatiello stabbed Giulia 37 times, mostly to the neck and chest.. That day, Giulia had confronted the man after meeting his lover, discovering further lies. When she returned home, she would have been the victim of a deadly “ambush,” as described by investigators. After the murder, the man attempted to burn the body twice, failing, and then hid it in a cavity a few hundred meters from the house.

The chilling reconstruction of the crime revealed further disturbing details: Impagnatiello had been trying to poison Giulia with rat poison for months. The defendant's coldness, compared to that of a "chess player" who plans every move, left an indelible mark on the courtrooms.

The reactions of the family and society

The Tramontano family, deeply affected by mourning, took part in a flashmob outside the Palace of Justice in Milano, carrying a banner with Giulia's photo and a touching message: "Never again violence". Sister Chiara Tramontano stressed the need for collective action to prevent these crimes, starting with family and social education.

Chiara highlighted two crucial aspects: the importance of teaching respect in families and schools, and the need to support women in economic and social difficulty, offering safe ways out for those trapped in dangerous relationships. “Freedom must be a concrete possibility for every woman,” she said.

A warning against gender violence

Impagnatiello's conviction is not only a response to Giulia's family, but a reminder to society as a whole of the seriousness of gender violence. The Minister for Equal Opportunities and the Family, Eugenia Maria Roccella, reiterated the importance of fighting this scourge with an approach based on three principles: protect, prevent and prosecute. "Every femicide brings with it a terrible trail of pain," she said, "and justice must never underestimate the seriousness of these crimes."

The path to change

The case of Giulia Tramontano and the sentence for her murderer represent a step forward in the fight against violence against women, but they also highlight how much remains to be done. Education on respect, strengthening support networks for victims and increasing public awareness are essential tools to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The memory of Giulia and little Thiago will live on as a symbol of this battle. The family, in their grief, has launched a message of hope and responsibility: that society knows how to protect and respect every woman, so that there will never be another victim to mourn.