Murder of Sharon Verzeni: Bergamo Court Sentences Moussa Sangare to Life Imprisonment

The Court of Assizes in Bergamo announced the verdict in a case that has become a symbol of senseless violence. Moussa Sangare, a 31-year-old Italian citizen of Malian origin, was found guilty of murdering Sharon Verzeni on the night of July 29-30, 2024. The judges fully concurred with the arguments of prosecutor Emanuele Marchisio, who demanded the penalty of life imprisonment. The court rejected the defense's arguments regarding alleged insanity, ruling that the perpetrator acted consciously and with calculation, as confirmed by his attempts to cover his tracks and previous harassment of bystanders with a knife. During the closing argument, the public prosecutor described Sangare as an extremely narcissistic individual who sought strong emotions at the cost of human life. The evidence in the case was indisputable: city surveillance footage recorded the accused fleeing on a bicycle, and genetic tests confirmed the presence of the victim's DNA on the murder weapon. Sharon Verzeni was attacked by surprise while taking a night walk for her health, which the court classified as exploitation of the victim's vulnerability. In his final statement, Sangare attempted to plead his innocence, which the victim's family perceived as a display of a complete lack of remorse. The town of Terno d'Isola, where the tragedy occurred, belongs to the Lombardy region, which in recent years has been grappling with a debate on safety in small local communities following a series of brutal street crimes. The verdict was received with great emotion by the family of the murdered bartender. Sharon's partner, Sergio Ruocco, who was initially under investigation himself, did not hide his tears after the verdict was announced, emphasizing that the pain of losing a loved one would stay with him forever. The court also awarded compensation to the civil plaintiffs. Concurrently, media reports emerged about actions against so-called baby gangs in Sassari, fitting into the broader context of Italian law enforcement's fight against hooliganism and antisocial aggression.