State attorneys in the northern Italian city of Verona have opened an investigation to ascertain whether a railway police officer exceeded his right to self-defence when he shot dead on October 20 a 26-year-old man from Mali who had attacked him with a knife.
The railway police officer who fatally shot a 26-year-old migrant armed with a knife in Verona on October 20 is under investigation for potential abuse of legitimate self-defense.
The investigation will also allow the officer to appoint expert consultants ahead of forensic examinations to be ordered by prosecutor Diletta Schiaffino, who is overseeing the case.
Victim Diarra Moussa had a residence permit
An autopsy will soon be conducted on the body of the victim, Diarra Moussa, who was shot at close range by the officer as he allegedly attempted to lunge at him with a knife. Verona's Chief Prosecutor, Raffaele Tito, acknowledged that the situation "is certainly one of legitimate self-defense by the officer." However, he added that the investigation will assess whether there was any negligent conduct.
In particular, Tito stated that the investigation will examine whether there was "an excessive reaction," meaning that while there may have been no intent to commit a crime, the proportionality between defense and offense could have failed, resulting in a wrongful and negligent defensive response.
In response to the political controversy surrounding the incident -- prompted by a social media post from Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, who wrote "we will not miss him" regarding the victim -- the municipality of Verona confirmed that Moussa had a valid residence permit.
"He was a regular migrant, he was working" and was integrated, said the local security councillor, Stefania Zivelonghi. "We must understand what turned him into such an aggressive person that morning," she added.
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Reassurances of authorities, initiatives of activists and diocese
Moussa had seen his asylum request denied. He would have been forced to move, over the next few days, to a new location which the activists of Paratodos and other associations had occupied in Quinzano, an area owned by the municipality which has been abandoned for the past 20 years.
As far as public security is concerned, prosecutor Tito said he does not believe the episode "can be evaluated as a sign or a growing sign of danger of the area in front of the station of Verona," also because the aggressive behaviour of the victim had begun "about two hours before" he was killed "and in an area of the city that is far from the railway station."
On the night of October 21, a sit-in was organized by Paratodos in front of the railway station. The group had been hosting Moussa for several months at the 'Ghibellin fuggiasco,' a space near Porta Vescovo that housed around 40 migrants before being evicted by authorities.
In addition, the diocese of Verona organized a prayer service in front of the station, moving the ceremony from the city’s cathedral. “The change in location, a day after the tragic event involving the death of Diarra Moussa, is intended as a sign of hope, peace, and light,” the diocese said in a statement.
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