The trial against the Italian arrested near Leipzig begins

The Italian was only arrested at a motorway service station on the A9 near Leipzig after eight days on the run through Austria and Bavaria. If convicted of murder, he faces life imprisonment.

The case sparked a major debate in Italy about so-called femicides – even when women are killed because of their gender. The most common form is the killing of women by their partner or ex-partner.

There were at least 43 such murders in Italy last year. The death of Giulia Cecchettin, then 22 years old, was the case that attracted the most attention.

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The student from the northern Italian city of Padua was killed with 75 stab wounds in a parking lot in the province of Venice.

Suspicion quickly fell on her ex-boyfriend, who had stalked her for months after their breakup. The manhunt dominated the headlines for days until the student was arrested in Germany.

Apparently he had run out of petrol on the motorway. He was extradited at the request of the Italian judiciary.

During the interrogations, the young man made a confession. He also admitted that he had brought the murder weapon along with gifts in a backpack to a meeting with his ex-girlfriend.

He was not personally present at the start of the trial. It is unclear whether he will appear in court at all. The 22-year-old had a statement read through his lawyer.

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“I will only attend the trial if it is necessary. And I hope that it will be over soon.”