32-year-old Filippo Claudio Giuseppe Ferlazzo, has been remanded in prison for beating a 39-year-old Nigerian migrant to death in Italy.
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that Alika was beaten to death by an Italian man on the streets of Civitanova Marche city located in the Province of Macerata, Marche Region of Italy for allegedly complimenting Ferlazzo’s partner’s beauty .
Ferlazzo’s lawyer, Roberta Bizzarri, said during Monday’s hearing, her client cooperated with investigators, had apologized for what happened and had “clarified” that racism was not the motive.
“Regardless of the colour of his skin he would have committed that very ugly gesture.” Bizzarri told journalists outside the court.
Macerata prosecutors have also charged Ferlazzo, with homicide and robbery, as he also allegedly took Ogochukwu‘s phone after killing him, but racism was not cited as an aggravating factor.
According to ANSA Italy, Ferlazzo family said he had a history of mental health problems, which had led to his mother being assigned as his legal guardian by a court.
“Why wasn’t he being monitored even though he had a guardian?” said Francesco Mantella, the lawyer representing Ogorchukwu’s family.
“Apologies are not enough,” Ogorchukwu’s family said via the lawyer. “What is needed now is justice, not vendetta. It’s difficult to understand what happened.”
Patrick Guobadia of the Nigerians in Italy association said that “if it had been two Italians, things would have turned out differently – someone would have intervened to separate them.”
Ogorchukwu leaves behind a wife and an eight-year-old son. He also provided for an 10-year-old girl who lived with his family but was not his daughter.
Meanwhile, the local council has set up a fund of 15,000 euros to help the victim’s family.