Alessia Pifferi's appeal trial, which addresses her murder conviction for leaving her young daughter, Diana, to die of starvation, has taken several distressing turns. Centring on the allegations of assault she faced within prison, Pifferi did not attend the second session of her appeal on February 28, 2025, claiming she had been attacked and injured by fellow inmates at the Vigevano prison, resulting in four stitches to her face.
This is not the first time Pifferi has reported such violence. Previously, during hearings at the San Vittore facility, she detailed how other detainees violently assaulted her, stating, "Di notte mi urlano 'mostro', 'assassina', 'devi morire', 'meriti tante botte.'" Such claims have raised significant concern about her safety and the overall conditions of inmate life, as described by her sister, Viviana Pifferi, who reflected on the harsh realities of prison and her discomfort with how her sister was being treated. "Non so cosa sia successo però è un carcere penso che in un carcere non ci sia propriamente un ambiente calmo e tranquillo. Se sono preoccupata per lei? Lei lo è per noi e per quello che ci sta facendo passare? A me non sembra," she commented.
The appeal stems from Pifferi's conviction last year when she was sentenced to life imprisonment for the deliberate neglect and death of her 18-month-old daughter. The emotional weight of this case is compounded by the serious nature of the allegations against Pifferi, which continue to evolve with each court session.
A notable development during this hearing was the introduction of new psychiatric evaluations. The court ordered this after Pifferi's defense argued there might be cognitive impairments impacting her mental state at the time of the incident. This follows existing evidence presented previously, which indicated Pifferi may have difficulty comprehending her situation fully.
Of significant concern is the parallel investigation led by prosecutor Francesco De Tommasi, which involves claims against Pifferi's attorney and several psychologists and psychiatrists. They are accused of potentially manipulating her psychiatric assessments to paint her as less culpable at trial. This twist has drawn scrutiny, as documents reveal the prosecution will substantiate claims against the defense team for submitting false statements to the court.
During the courtroom exchanges, tensions were palpable. The prosecution made the case clear against the relevance of past documents, arguing they shouldn't influence current proceedings. Prosecutor De Tommasi dismissed the civil attorney's calls for reviewing potentially manipulative tactics employed by Pifferi’s defense team, citing them as irrelevant and previously known before the first trial.
Despite these events, the judges of the appeal court remained firm. They rejected the admission of certain evidence concerning alleged misconduct from Pifferi's defense, citing improper procedure and lack of relevance to the matter at hand. Future assessments are awaiting as the trial is scheduled to reconvene. Per the court’s timeline, new psychiatric evaluations, set to commence at Vigevano prison, will hold considerable power over Pifferi's fate.
Awaiting the results from experts will significantly influence the case, and all eyes remain on how these revelations might reshape perceptions surrounding Pifferi's mental condition and culpability. The outcome of this appeal could lead to significant shifts not only for Pifferi's life but also for broader conversations surrounding mental health assessments within the legal system.