Rimini, September 7, 2026 – More time will be needed to know the reasons for the acquittal of Louis Dassilva in the trial for the murder of Pierina Paganelli. In fact, a request for an extension of a further 90 days has been submitted for the filing of the sentence by the Court of Assizes of Rimini.
The initially scheduled deadline was today, September 7. Dassilva was acquitted on June 10 of the charge of premeditated murder and immediately released from custody. The verdict came after a council chamber lasting about 16 hours: it was almost 3 a.m. when the president of the Court, Fiorella Casadei, read the ruling.
Dassilva, who declared himself innocent throughout the proceedings, welcomed the decision in tears along with his lawyers.
The murder of Pierina and the discovery of the body
At the center of the trial is the death of Pierina Paganelli, 78 years old, killed on the evening of October 3, 2023, in the garage of the condominium on via del Ciclamino, in Rimini. The body was found the following morning by the daughter-in-law Manuela Bianchi. The autopsy identified 29 stab wounds. According to the prosecution, supported by deputy prosecutor Daniele Paci, the person responsible for the murder was Dassilva, the victim’s neighbor and at the time romantically involved with Bianchi.
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The new hearing after the filing of the reasons
The Prosecutor’s Office has appealed the acquittal and the proceedings will therefore continue before the Court of Assizes of Appeal in Bologna.
The new hearing, however, can only be scheduled after the filing of the reasons for the first instance sentence. Dassilva, defended by lawyers Riario Fabbri and Andrea Guidi, resumed work after his release and expressed the desire to remain in Italy.
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