ROME — Over a year after a brutal murder shocked a small town in northern Italy, the case is now on the verge of resolution—thanks to a chilling video recorded by the alleged killer himself.
According to reports from the German Press Agency (dpa) and multiple Italian news outlets, the breakthrough came when the victim’s father managed to unlock his late son’s iPhone—a feat law enforcement had been unable to achieve. Inside the device, the father discovered a short video that appears to have been filmed by the suspect at the scene of the crime.
The murder occurred in late April of last year in Villafranca Padovana, a quiet town of 10,000 residents near Padua. A 32-year-old man was found fatally stabbed, sparking a swift investigation. Police quickly focused on a 34-year-old acquaintance of the victim, who was subsequently arrested. However, efforts to extract digital evidence from the victim’s locked iPhone had repeatedly failed.
Eventually, authorities returned the device to the victim’s family. After persistent attempts, the father succeeded in accessing the phone using the correct PIN.
What he found could prove pivotal. According to Il Gazzettino, the video clip—lasting only a few seconds—was filmed near the time and location of the killing. It reportedly shows the suspect muttering unintelligible phrases before nervously running his hands through his hair.
The accused remains in custody, and his trial is scheduled to begin in September.
