Novi Ligure
Introduction
The Novi Ligure murder occurred on February 21, 2001 in the Italian city of Novi Ligure, in the province of Alessandria. The victim was Susanna Cassini, also known as "Susy", a 41-year-old accountant, and her 11-year-old son, Gianluca De Nardo. They were killed with kitchen knives by Susy's 16-year-old daughter, Erika De Nardo, and Erika's 17-year-old boyfriend, Mauro Favaro, also known as "Omar". Their planned murder shook the Italian public and the case garnered media attention.
History
The reconstruction of the dynamics of the crime is based mainly on reports provided by the Scientific Investigation Department of the Carabinieri. According to the prosecutor, the two teenagers had planned to kill Erika's father, Francesco De Nardo, an engineer and executive of confectionery company Pernigotti, but Omar was tired after the double murder and decided to give up. In the end, the two killed only Erika's mother and brother. Erika tried to blame everything on Omar, but her version was deemed untrue. Instead, Omar's statements were confirmed by objective evidence. He showed more remorse and regret for what they had done, although he downplayed his role.
Around 7:30 pm on February 21, 2001, Susy Cassini and her son Gianluca returned home. After an argument between Susy and Erika regarding bad grades, Erika grabbed a knife and stabbed her mother. Omar, hiding in the ground floor bathroom, rushed to assist her. Together, the two teenagers attacked Susy from behind and began to stab her with the knife.
Conclusion
The Novi Ligure murder garnered a lot of attention in Italy. Erika De Nardo and Mauro Favaro were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Erika's mother and brother. This case shed light on the vulnerabilities of young people, who can easily be influenced by the words and actions of those around them. It is important for parents to be careful about who their children spend their time with and to always keep a watchful eye on their behavior. Let's hope that a case like this never happens again.
