Bologna, September 10, 2026 – New documents emerge about the past of Marin Jelenic, the 36-year-old Croatian homeless man accused of killing train conductor Alessandro Ambrosio, 34 years old, last January 5. And from those documents emerges “a monstrous past” of Jelenic, as defined by Simone Sabattini, lawyer for Ambro’s parents, as well as for the Cgil, in the ongoing aggravated murder trial (pm Michele Martorelli). Among the episodes that, in hindsight, are chilling, are other attacks on train conductors, in particular one with a box cutter.
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Footage from the days before the murder is missing
“I am sure, absolutely sure, that Jelenic recognized Ambrosio that day and followed him, but unfortunately we have no proof – emphasizes Sabattini –. The footage from the cameras in the days before the murder is missing, another absurd thing, moreover he knows he is heading towards the employee-only area, where he can kill him. But above all, from the new elements acquired emerges a very strong conflictuality towards uniforms, and towards train conductors in particular.”
Jelenic once pointed a box cutter at a ticket inspector
The lawyer refers to some specific episodes, including one time when he pointed a box cutter at a ticket inspector and another, the day before the murder, in which he argued with a train conductor and was made to get off a Freccia train, and yet another, a few days before the crime, in which he clashed with railway uniformed personnel. And then an already known episode, in which he slapped a train conductor and spat on him.
Ambro’s father: “I don’t want to think it’s all random”
The theory that Jelenic recognized Ambrosio and for this reason decided to kill him is shared by Luigi, Ambro’s father: “It makes sense – he says –, I don’t want to think it’s all random, I don’t believe in the act of a madman who hits a person at random without a reason.”
Previous offenses also collected in Austria and Germany
From the incidents against railway uniformed personnel to the many times the 36-year-old was stopped, always with a knife. And then previous ‘collected’ in Austria and Germany. If to this is added that he was subject to an expulsion order from the prefect of Milan (Jelenic should have left Italy on January 3, two days before the crime), “it is truly inexplicable how this person could still be free, roaming calmly and undisturbed.”
Stopped 7 or 8 times with a knife: “A dangerous person”
Among the new information emerged about the homeless man’s past, it appears that in Italy he was stopped seven or eight times and always found armed with a knife. “Each time, of course, it was confiscated from him and each time he recovered another. A dangerous person, as is evident,” says Sabattini.
“He felt untouchable, immune to the law, but if they had stopped him…”
“He felt untouchable – comments Luigi Ambrosio, with great sadness in his voice –, he thought he was immune to the law, to everything. If only they had stopped him while there was still time… Now, he must spend his whole life in prison.” For lawyer Sabattini, the possible contacts between Jelenic and Ambrosio have not been fully investigated. The motive, meanwhile, remains unclear. Jelenic continues to deny being there, claims he is not the one caught on camera footage and that he is a victim of a conspiracy, while his past reveals a picture of major depression, alcohol and drug addiction, and proximity to far-right groups. “I would like the motive to come out, I really would, for Ambrosio’s parents – emphasizes Sabattini –, they deserve to have answers.” The next hearing in the Court of Assizes is on September 23, where one of the assaulted train conductors will be heard, as well as the outcome of the psychiatric evaluation on Jelenic will be reported.
