Trial Begins in Italy for Brutal Murder of Student, Sparking National Debate on Femicide

Giulia Cecchettin's ex-boyfriend faces life imprisonment in a case highlighting Italy's alarming rates of gender-based violence.

Giulia Cecchettin, a 22-year-old biomedical engineering student, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Filippo Turetta in November 2023.
Turetta confessed to the crime and faces charges including voluntary manslaughter and kidnapping; he risks life imprisonment.
Cecchettin's brutal murder has ignited national outrage and a broader conversation on the cultural roots of femicide in Italy.
In 2023, 120 women were killed in Italy, with more than half of these murders committed by current or former partners.
Cecchettin's family and activists are calling for cultural change and stronger legal protections to combat gender-based violence.