Bologna court orders psychiatric evaluation for double homicide suspect

The Court of Assizes in Bologna has ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Gennaro Maffia, the 49-year-old accused of the June 2025 double homicide of roommates Luca Gombi and Luca Monaldi in their Bologna apartment.

During the initial hearing, the defense requested the evaluation, citing Maffia’s recent history of unprovoked aggressive behavior toward other detainees while in custody at La Dozza prison. The defense argues the assessment is necessary to determine if latent psychiatric pathologies affect his capacity to understand and will his actions, which may also impact the application of the “futili motivi” (frivolous motives) aggravating factor.

While the public prosecutor agreed that the evaluation could help approach the truth, legal representatives for the victims' families opposed the move. They argued that Maffia demonstrated sufficient lucidity to organize an escape to Spain immediately following the murders, suggesting he was fully capable of understanding his actions.