Massimo Lovati faces defamation trial in Garlasco murder case

A Milan court has ruled that Andrea Sempio, who is under investigation for the murder of Chiara Poggi, will not testify in the defamation trial of his former lawyer, Massimo Lovati. Lovati is facing charges for statements made in March 2025 regarding the Giarda law firm.

Judge Gianluca De Rosa rejected the defense's request to hear Sempio following the examination of other witnesses. The court has accepted various documents, including reports from the private investigation firm Skp and genetic consultations from experts Matteo Fabbri and Pasquale Linarello. The case involves the controversial collection of Sempio’s DNA from a cup and spoon taken from a bar without his knowledge in November 2016.

Lovati criticized the court's decision to exclude certain Skp witnesses, while the civil parties, Enrico and Fabio Giarda, stated the trial is necessary to protect their father's memory. The next hearing is scheduled for November 9, with a verdict expected in 2027.