August 26, 2025 – The high-profile case of Alessia Pifferi, the 38-year-old Italian woman sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of her 18-month-old daughter Diana, has taken a significant turn in the appeal process. On February 10, 2025, the Court of Assizes of Appeal in Milan ordered a new psychiatric evaluation for Pifferi, accepting the defense’s request despite the first-degree ruling that she was fully “capable of understanding and wanting” at the time of the crime. This development comes amid ongoing investigations into alleged manipulations of psychiatric tests and Pifferi’s claims of severe cognitive deficits, potentially reopening debates about her mental state and criminal responsibility. As the appeal hearing continues, with Pifferi absent from the second session in February due to a reported prison beating, the case continues to captivate Italy and raise questions about maternal filicide, mental health, and judicial oversight. Below is a detailed examination of the case, the initial trial, the appeal proceedings, and the implications of the new appraisal, based on court records, expert reports, and media coverage.
The Crime: A Tragic Abandonment Leading to Starvation
The case dates back to July 2022, when Alessia Pifferi, a Milan resident, allegedly left her daughter Diana alone in their apartment in the Citta Studi neighborhood for six days—from July 14 to July 20—while she traveled to Bergamo to spend time with her boyfriend, Alberto Bianco. Diana, who was just 18 months old, was confined to a playpen with limited access to food and water, including a few bottles of milk and water. Autopsy results revealed that the toddler died of starvation and dehydration, having attempted to sustain herself by eating parts of her diaper in desperation. Pifferi returned home on July 20, discovered the body (which had been dead for about a day), and initially lied to authorities, claiming she had left Diana with a babysitter who had vanished. She later confessed, admitting to prior instances of leaving the child alone for shorter periods, which prosecutors described as a “progressive abandonment” culminating in premeditated murder.
Pifferi was arrested on July 21, 2022, and charged with aggravated voluntary homicide (murder) under Italian law, citing futile motives (prioritizing personal leisure) and the victim’s vulnerability as a minor. The prosecution, led by Francesco De Tommasi, argued that Pifferi acted with direct intent, knowing the abandonment would likely result in death, as she fabricated stories to her partner and family about Diana being with relatives at the seaside. Investigations also uncovered chats suggesting Pifferi engaged in sex work during this period, further painting a picture of neglect and self-interest.
The First-Degree Trial: Life Sentence and Initial Psychiatric Findings
Pifferi’s trial began in 2023 at the Milan Court of Assizes, presided over by Judge Ilio Mannucci Pacini. The prosecution portrayed her as a “liar and actress” who simulated remorse, emphasizing her lies even in the face of Diana’s body. De Tommasi requested life imprisonment, arguing premeditation and awareness of the fatal consequences, stating, “She didn’t have the courage to kill her with her own hands and left the task to fate… She knew her daughter would die, and she achieved her goal.”
A key element was a psychiatric evaluation ordered by the court and conducted by expert Elvezio Pirfo. Filed in February 2024, the report concluded that Pifferi was “capable of understanding and wanting” (imputabile in Italian legal terms) at the time of the crime, meaning she fully comprehended her actions and their consequences. Pirfo noted no major psychiatric disorders or personality issues, stating she “protected her desires as a woman with respect to her maternal duties” and exhibited “an intelligence of conduct” by tailoring lies to different people. This finding rejected the defense’s claims of a “severe cognitive deficit,” supported by Pifferi’s history of special education needs and incomplete schooling.
On May 13, 2024, the court sentenced Pifferi to life imprisonment, rejecting premeditation as an aggravating factor but awarding provisional damages: €50,000 to her mother Maria Assandri and €20,000 to her sister Viviana Pifferi. Post-sentence, Pifferi went on a hunger strike, telling her lawyer, “I no longer want to live,” and reported being “destroyed.” Her mother called the verdict “fair,” adding, “She has to pay.”
The Appeal: New Psychiatric Appraisal and Parallel Investigations
Pifferi’s defense, led by lawyer Alessia Pontenani, immediately appealed, arguing the initial report was flawed and that Pifferi suffered from cognitive impairments rendering her not fully responsible. On February 10, 2025, the Milan Court of Assizes of Appeal granted the request for a new psychiatric evaluation, despite opposition from Deputy Attorney General Lucilla Tontodonati and civil party lawyers, who cited the first report’s clarity on her lucidity. Pontenani argued, “Pifferi has serious cognitive problems… She lied like a person with little ability, like children do.”
The new appraisal aims to reassess her mental capacity, potentially leading to a reduced sentence or acquittal on grounds of incapacity. However, the court rejected a related request to admit documents from a second investigation into alleged manipulations of prison psychiatric tests. This probe, coordinated by De Tommasi, involves Pontenani, psychologists from San Vittore prison, and psychiatrist Marco Garbarini (defense consultant), accused of forgery and aiding/abetting to fabricate evidence of mental disorders. Prosecutors claim the tests were altered to portray Pifferi as impaired, contradicting the trial’s findings of simulation and lying.
Pifferi did not attend the February 28, 2025, appeal hearing, citing a “legitimate impediment” due to a beating by fellow inmates in Vigevano prison, where she suffered four stitches and faces daily taunts of “monster” and “murderer.” She remains detained, with the appeal ongoing.
Reactions and Broader Implications
The case has sparked national outrage in Italy, with media dubbing it a “chilling” example of maternal neglect. Prosecutors and civil parties, including Pifferi’s family (acting as partie civili), view the new appraisal as unnecessary, emphasizing her “voluntary conduct” and “rock-solid evidence.” The defense insists on overlooked vulnerabilities, highlighting Pifferi’s socio-economic struggles and lack of social services support.
Legally, the appraisal could invoke Article 88 of the Italian Penal Code, reducing or eliminating culpability if incapacity is proven. However, precedents in filicide cases (e.g., those involving postpartum psychosis) rarely overturn life sentences without compelling new evidence. The parallel forgery probe adds complexity, potentially discrediting the defense if manipulations are confirmed.
Socially, the case underscores failures in child welfare: Pifferi was known in her community for distress, yet no interventions occurred despite Diana’s birth in a toilet (unnoticed pregnancy) and prior neglect. Advocacy groups call for better mental health screening for at-risk mothers.
What’s Next?
The new psychiatric report is expected soon, with hearings resuming in fall 2025. A favorable outcome could lead to a retrial or sentence reduction; otherwise, life imprisonment stands, followed by three years’ probation. The forgery investigation may conclude concurrently, influencing credibility.
This saga, blending tragedy, deception, and mental health debates, remains a poignant reminder of systemic gaps in protecting vulnerable children. For updates, monitor Italian outlets like ANSA or La Repubblica. The pursuit of justice for Diana continues, as her grandmother poignantly said, “I carry her in my heart.”