Louis Dassilva speaks on TV after his acquittal for the murder of Pierina Paganelli

While in all likelihood we will have to wait a little longer to read the reasons that led to the acquittal of Louis Dassilva on the charge of killing the pensioner Pierina Paganelli in Rimini on 3 October 2023, the man who spent almost two years in prison on a very serious charge, and released three months ago, spoke on television today, live with Salvo Sottile's "Ore 14" on Rai2. Upon reading the acquittal sentence - which arrived on the night between 9 and 10 June last, after a very long deliberation - "at first I didn't even understand what had happened, also because I was afraid. Then I realized and I felt free. I prayed a lot, the evening I left prison to go to Court I remember thinking 'I confide in the Lord'", said Dassilva. "Taking my life back now is not easy. What if people believe me guilty? Justice has the final say."

"Manuela? Maybe she accused me to protect someone or herself"

After the first degree trial, there is no one guilty for the death of Pierina Paganelli, which occurred in the basement of the condominium where the woman lived, but also Dassilva with his wife Valeria Bartolucci, and Pierina's son Giuliano Saponi, married to Manuela Bianchi, who had started a relationship with the 36-year-old of Senegalese origins. Dassilva still today cannot explain why he was the only one accused of the murder, nor why the one accusing him - even if indirectly - was the very Manuela who said she loved him. "Maybe she did it out of revenge, to protect someone or herself", Dassilva, who has always proclaimed his innocence, hypothesized on TV.

Request for extension for filing reasons

"The person I love is my wife, Valeria Bartolucci, and we are still together. With Manuela it was a physical relationship like others", said Louis who had also defended himself in the Court of Assizes by denying his love for Bianchi. Love which, however, according to the Prosecutor's Office was the real motive for the murder of the 78-year-old, found dead with dozens of stab wounds in the garage area of ​​the condominium in Via del Ciclamino in Rimini. "Now I await the appeal with the confidence I have always had. I have dedicated many prayers to Pierina, but I have nothing to say to Manuela".

In the meantime, a request has been filed for an extension of the deadline for filing the reasons for the acquittal for the same period, i.e. a further 90 days. In fact, today the deadline set on June 10th would have expired. The Prosecutor's Office has lodged an appeal against the ruling at first instance, the hearing of which before the Bologna court can only be scheduled after the publication of the reasons at first instance.