Overview

• On July 14, Judge Raffaele Deflorio formally bound Dassilva over for a Corte d’Assise trial on voluntary and aggravated murder charges.
• The first hearing is set for September 15, more than a year after Dassilva’s pretrial detention began in July 2024.
• Judge Vinicio Cantarini previously denied bail, citing Dassilva’s alleged motive, absence of alibi and knowledge of the victim’s habits.
• Prosecutors allege Dassilva killed Paganelli to prevent her from exposing his affair with daughter-in-law Manuela Bianchi and to protect his marriage.
• Efforts to match surveillance footage, voice recordings and biological tests to Dassilva have yielded no conclusive genetic or biometric evidence.