On 1 November 2007, in the picturesque medieval town of Perugia, Italy, a young computer student’s life would change forever. Raffaele Sollecito, the son of a well-to-do doctor, would find himself caught in a web of lies created by an evil prosecutor, Giuliano Mignini. It had the elements of a dramatic love story. But, not even the most talented of filmmakers would be able to create the twists and turns that Raffaele would be taken on for years to come. He had no idea that the simple act of comforting his now ex-girlfriend with a kiss, would lead him to be accused of murder.
From an early age, we are all led to believe that everybody has rights, that law enforcement officials are there to protect us, and that as long as we do what the police say everything will be fine. However, for Raffaele, this basic reality would cease to exist. The true faces of the Italian prosecutors, police and detectives would rear their ugly heads and throw Raffaele into the depths of hell, which in his case was the Italian prison system.
From the very beginning of the investigation Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini, with the help of Chief of Homicide Monica Napoleoni, had set the trap for Raffaele. Before he even knew the evil that was going to overtake him, Giuliano Mignini had already decided that Raffaele was going to be pronounced guilty. All because Mignini wanted access to Raffaele’s financial assets.
Even before any kind of evidence collection had occurred, Monica Napoleoni was already looking at Raffaele with suspicion. Raffaele’s good nature and gentle demeanor were targets for the devil who had taken the form of Italian law enforcement. What they didn’t know was that the peaceful aura surrounding Raffaele was a sign of the strong faith that would help him survive the brutality that was in store for him. He would spend four years in prison, including three months in solitary confinement with physical and verbal abuse, but Raffaele would come out stronger than ever.
Italian authorities would do the unthinkable– they would break their own laws, create evidence and put an innocent man in jail for a crime he did not commit. In fact, Raffaele’s character as a person shows that it is not possible for him to have committed murder. The act is just too foreign to him. Most importantly, there is not a shred of evidence linking him to the crime. Bits of evidence the prosecution claims connect Raffaele to the crime are ludicrous.
The first piece of evidence that is used against Raffaele is a contaminated DNA sample found on the bra clasp of the murder victim. It was not collected until 45 days after the crime, and had so many DNA samples from different males on it that it was impossible to determine who the samples really belonged to. Then there was a footprint found on a bathmat. For anybody to say this was Raffaele’s footprint is shocking, because it looks nothing like his foot. A semen stain on a pillow at the crime scene has not been tested to this day to prove that it isn’t Raffaele’s. Last but not least, the murder weapon, which the prosecution claimed was found by investigating officers in Raffaele’s kitchen drawer was unbelievable. The first officer reached inside the drawer, pulled out the knife and asked the second officer, ” Will this do?” To which the second officer replied, “Yes, yes, it’s great.”
The very fact that Raffaele is referred to as the killer by the Italian authorities shows broken Italy’s Honor Laws. During Raffaele’s interrogation he was denied his request to speak to an attorney. He was only given that privilege two days after he was arrested. By doing this, authorities broke another law, according to the Italian Code of Criminal Procedure, Book One, Title Vll, where it is stated that the defendant in custody has the right to meet with a lawyer from the beginning of the measure. Raffaele also was not warned of the fact that statements he gave could be used against him. As a matter of fact, he was threatened with verbal, mental and physical abuse if he did not comply and say exactly what police wanted him to say. This clearly shows that a trap was set for Raffaele. They wanted to get a conviction and they did not care how they got it. It did not matter to them that there was no evidence. It did not matter to them that they were abusing him.
How can we trust these authorities who break their own laws? They have shown that evidence does not have to exist it; can be created. On 25 March 2015, Raffaele will once again have to be dragged into that glorified circus they have the nerve to call a courtroom, all because of evil lies created by Guiliano Mignini and his minions.
Mary Thompson