Murder of Marta Russo

The Plaque in memory of Martha Russo, University of Rome La Sapienza.

Marta Russo was a student at the Faculty of Law at the Sapienza University of Rome, killed by a shot gun within the University grounds when she was 22 years old. Her murder was the centre of a complex court case that garnered huge media attention owing to the lack of substantial evidence and motive.

On 9 May 1997, at 11.35 a 0.22 calibre bullet hit Marta Russo while she walked with a friend on the university's grounds, in a driveway located between the faculties of Statistical Sciences, Law and Political Science. The girl was transported to the nearby Policlinico Umberto I, but she died on May 13 without regaining consciousness^[1].

In June 1999, Giovanni Scattone was convicted of the involuntary manslaughter of Russo, and Salvatore Ferraro was convicted of aiding and abetting Scattone^[2].

Media attention

The case gained huge attention in the media, owing to the apparent indiscriminate nature in which the victim was targeted^[3]. The public was so interested that court proceedings were broadcast live on radio. Campus killings were unheard of in Italy, leading to parents of students being so scared for their children that they insisted on them wearing motorcycle helmets while outside^[1]. More than 10,000 students attended Russo's funeral, joined by the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. The Pope sent a message of condolence.

Academics were banned from speaking directly to the press^[4].

Lack of motive as a motive

Police could not find a motive for the killing of Russo. She had no history of drug abuse, no outspoken political or religious convictions and no jilted lovers in her past. Instead, they used the lack of motive as a motive for an academic to attempt to commit a crime for which they could not be prosecuted.

See also

• Summum ius, summa iniuria

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Kennedy, Frances. "A perfect crime: Killer on campus", The Independent, 1999-03-27. Retrieved on 2009-07-08.
2. ^ Kennedy, Frances. "It was the perfect crime. So who made the fatal error?", The Independent, 1999-06-08. Retrieved on 2009-07-08.
3. ^ Hooper, John. "Case of the perfect pointless murder grips Italy", The Guardian, 1999-02-13. Retrieved on 2009-07-08.
4. ^ THES Editorial. "Gagging order sticks in academic craw", Times Higher Education Supplement, 1997-08-08. Retrieved on 2009-07-08.