Chronicle

The case

China, the murderer of Paola Sandri, the Vicenza teacher killed 17 years ago, sentenced to death

The crime in Beijing in 2006. After 16 years of fruitless investigations, the unexpected turning point with the arrest of the confessed offender

02/06/2023

Antonello Profita, editing Renato Masiero

The 47-year-old Chinese man sentenced to death found guilty of the killing of Paola Sandri from Vicenza.

The crime in 2006

The crime took place in Beijing in 2006. After 16 years of fruitless investigation, the unexpected turning point with the arrest of the confessed offender was unsuccessful. An investigation had also been opened by the Vicenza prosecutor's office after the autopsy, performed in Italy, had confirmed the homicide hypothesis.

The comment of the victim's father

"

It closes the circle", commented Paola's father. The 29-year-old was stabbed to death in the street while returning home to Chaoyang district, not far from the Art Academy, after dinner. Perhaps an attempted robbery. The professor taught Chinese at the University of Lyon, had already been to Harbin, Nanjing and had recently returned to the capital.

The Sandri family did not ask for compensation and did not participate in the trial, while staff from the Italian consulate were present. Instead, his family organized cultural meetings in his memory.

Death sentence suspended for two years

The death penalty sentence was suspended for two years. Then it will depend on how his conduct in prison is evaluated. If she behaves well she will be commuted to life imprisonment, but if she is considered excellent she will have to serve 25 years of imprisonment.