"The Court believes that the achievement of a financial or patrimonial objective closely connected to the newly established romantic relationship is not a motive so manifestly disproportionate and abnormal with respect to the crime committed as to be a mere pretext for giving vent to an occasional criminal impulse." With this reasoning, which is stated in the ruling filed yesterday, the Cagliari Assize Court explained why, despite sentencing Igor Sollai to life in prison for the aggravated murder of his wife, Francesca Deidda, it found the "futile and abject motives" requested by Public Prosecutor Marco Cocco to be unfounded.
The reasons
Explaining the reasons for the life sentence with daytime solitary confinement handed down to the 45-year-old truck driver from San Sperate, convicted of killing his 43-year-old wife on May 10, 2024, with a series of hammer blows to the head, the Court presided over by Lucia Perra (with Roberto Cau acting as judge) reiterated that "Igor Sollai never expressed any real regret for the very serious crimes he committed, but always appeared coldly determined, both before and after his imprisonment, to act exclusively with a view to ensuring he had a chance to limit the consequences of the very serious crime he committed." After the crime, the truck driver had thrown the woman's body in a duffel bag in the woods of San Priamo, keeping her phone to text family and friends and suggest she had voluntarily left the area. Within a few weeks, however, the Carabinieri and the Prosecutor's Office had discovered the murder. Andrea Deidda, a civil party in the trial with his lawyer Gianfranco Piscitelli, had asked for justice for his sister.
Economic motive
The judges confirmed the economic motive for the murder, aggravated by premeditation and cruelty, clarifying that Sollai (defended by attorney Carlo Demurtas) did not merit mitigating circumstances. The defendant, according to the court, wanted to secure his house, money, severance pay, his few possessions, and even his wife's life insurance to start a new life with his lover. "The confession never appeared to be accompanied by a stirring in Sollai of a feeling of human compassion for his poor wife," the court wrote, "or of genuine remorse for her brutal murder."
Elmas dedicated the Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to fellow citizen Francesca Deidda, killed by her husband in their home in San Sperate. Yesterday morning, the community of Masano gathered to remember the victims of femicide, with a moment of silence on Via Antonio Boi. The meeting, organized by the Women's Council, included readings by the Council of Elderly and the Schola Cantorum, donations of artifacts made by the "Penelope Cutting and Sewing" and "Ancient Women's Arts" groups, and dance performances by the "Cibiesse" society. Also in attendance were Pro Loco, SOS Elmas, the Agesci Scout Group, and artists from Masano.
In the afternoon, at the Maria Carta Theatre, the reflection process concluded with a meeting sponsored by the Municipality.
Francesco Pinna
(Sara Saiu collaborated)