Rimini, 11 June 2024 – It was supposed to be the day of truth. Today, at the forensic genetics laboratory in Ancona, and then again tomorrow at the headquarters of the central management of the scientific police in Rome, the “unrepeatable technical investigations” should have been carried out on the biological samples of Pierina Paganelli and on the 15 findings – some of which coming from the crime scene – isolated by investigators. However, the tests will not be carried out and have been, at least for the moment, suspended by the Rimini Prosecutor’s Office. This is yet another twist in the investigation that revolves around the crime of the 78-year-old former nurse, massacred with 29 stab wounds last October 3rd in via Del Ciclamino.
Mystery, twist. Louis’ defense requests an evidentiary hearing. DNA tests postponed. Louis Dassilva outside the police station (photo Migliorini)
Yesterday morning, the defensive pool who assists the only suspect, the 34-year-old Senegalese metalworker Louis Dassilva, neighbor of the victim, has presented a reservation of evidentiary incident. Prosecutor Daniele Paci therefore ordered the suspension of the exams scheduled in Ancona and Rome pending the assignment of the consultant appointed by the investigating judge. In essence, the third-party judge will guarantee that the laboratory tests are carried out in an objective manner with respect for the parties. Dassilva’s defense, represented by the lawyer Riario Fabbri and the criminologist Roberta Bruzzone, will now have ten days to formalize the request for an evidentiary hearing which will then have to be accepted or not by the judge for the preliminary investigations. Dassilva’s defense has also made official the appointment of its consultant: the geneticist Marina Baldi.
The inscription of Louis’ name in the register of suspects it was functional precisely to the carrying out of what are defined as “non-repeatable technical investigations”, potentially decisive for the solution of the crime. Summoned to the police station last Thursday, the 34-year-old was subjected to a ‘buccal’ swab for DNA sampling. Today, in Ancona, an investigation should have been carried out conducted by the medical examiner Loredana Buscemi, who already took care of the autopsy on Pierina’s body: in particular, Buscemi should have carried out an analysis of the material acquired with the vaginal swab and Paganelli’s rectal. The second assessment should have instead concerned around fifteen finds made available by the flying squad. Among these, the handle of the Liujo bag belonging to the victim stands out in particular, on which the scientific police of Rimini, on the morning of 4 October 2023, had isolated a “presumed blood trace”. The skirt and an undergarment of the pensioner killed with 29 stab wounds were also under the magnifying glass of the investigators. Some fragments of fingerprints from the walls of the stairwell leading to the upper floors of the condominium at number 33 in Via Del Ciclamino will then be examined, where the murderer – on the evening of 3 October last – was expected to await Pierina’s return.
