Garlasco: Why the Poggis won't join the civil action

Chiara Poggi 's family will not join the civil action against Andrea Sempio , under investigation for the Garlasco crime . Their lawyers explained their decision with a blunt statement: "No claims against the innocent ." The decision came on October 1, 2026 , after the investigation was closed for the second time.

The news reignites a nearly twenty-year- old story , which began with an unconfessed murder and ended up in court several times. Two different levels matter here: the procedural one and the human one, which the two families tell from opposing perspectives.

The Garlasco crime and Stasi's conviction

Chiara Poggi was 26 years old when she was killed on August 13, 2007, in her home in Garlasco , in the province of Pavia . Alberto Stasi , her boyfriend at the time, was definitively convicted of that murder and sentenced to 16 years.

The Poggi family has repeatedly reiterated their belief in that ruling. The girl's parents have always expressed their conviction of Stasi 's guilt and have rejected alternative theories, including those that implicate Sempio.

Who is Andrea Sempio and what does the new investigation say?

Andrea Sempio had already been under investigation in the early years of the investigation, when he frequented Chiara's group of friends. His case was dismissed. In 2025, his name reappeared in the Pavia Prosecutor's Office's register of suspects.

In September 2026, the Prosecutor's Office closed the investigation, holding Sempio responsible for the murder. The basis for this was a technical report: according to the RIS , "print 33" found at the scene was soaked in blood . On this point, the defense disputes the reconstruction.

Why the Poggis will not join the civil action

Joining the civil action means asking to be included in the proceedings as parties harmed by the crime, with the possibility of seeking compensation. The Poggi family's lawyers have explained that they will not do so against Sempio , because they do not intend to make claims against those they consider uninvolved.

The decision doesn't change their fundamental position: they remain faithful to the sentences that found Stasi guilty. Therefore, they aren't asking for a new trial against Sempio , but they aren't supporting one either: they simply choose not to participate in the new proceedings.

The position of Sempio's family

On the other hand, Andrea Sempio 's mother defended her son with clear statements: "My son is innocent ." The defense disputes the prosecution's findings and requests that the case be evaluated without prejudice.

Two families, two truths that don't overlap. This is what the Garlasco case is all about: on one side, those who are certain of Stasi 's guilt , and on the other, those who dispute that reconstruction and are calling for the case to be reopened. The next step now concerns the possible indictment.

What happens now

With the investigation closed, the timeline shifts to the judge 's decision on whether to commit the case to trial. The Prosecutor's Office's request is not automatic: it is up to the preliminary hearing judge to evaluate the documents filed, including the technical reports and defense briefs. The case has already led to further developments, such as new expert reports from Stasi's defense . The Poggi family will remain outside the trial as civil plaintiffs, but will continue to defend their daughter's memory.

Those who have been following the case for years also know the names of the consultants and investigators involved over time, such as Giorgio Portera , formerly of the RIS , who became involved in the affair. Each new document brings to the fore a question that has never truly been answered: who killed Chiara Poggi.

FAQ

Who was convicted of the Garlasco crime?

Alberto Stasi , Chiara Poggi's boyfriend, was sentenced to 16 years for the murder. The Poggi family continues to believe this sentence.

Why is the Poggi family giving up the civil action?

Because he believes Andrea Sempio is not involved in the facts and does not want to make financial demands against a person he considers innocent. This choice was explained with the formula "no demands against the innocent . "

Was Andrea Sempio convicted?

No. The investigation into Sempio was closed in 2026 with a request for a possible trial, but no conviction has been filed. The judge's decision is pending.

When was Chiara Poggi killed?

On August 13, 2007 , at his home in Garlasco , in the province of Pavia. He was 26 years old.