Rome prosecutors open new Pasolini murder investigation after lawyer's complaint

A new file on the 1975 murder

The Rome prosecutors' office has opened a new investigation into the murder of Pier Paolo Pasolini, who was killed at Ostia in the night between 1 and 2 November 1975. The file has been assigned to prosecutor Silvia Santucci. It was opened on the strength of a complaint (esposto) filed at piazzale Clodio by lawyer Stefano Maccioni. Maccioni previously represented one of the poet's cousins, Guido Mazzon, and now acts for the Lazio order of journalists, director David Grieco and writer Giovanni Giovannetti.

“The new request, filed in November 2025 and supplemented in May 2026, is based on new elements gathered by the defence.”

Earlier requests and the Pelosi verdict

Requests to reopen the case were filed in 2016 and 2023, and the Rome prosecutors rejected both. Maccioni had already asked for a reopening in March 2009. After a 2015 order to close the case, he turned to politics and pushed for a parliamentary inquiry commission. MPs Serena Pellegrino and Paolo Bolognesi took up that request in 2016, backed by about 11,000 online signatures. In 2023 senator Ilaria Cucchi sought a Senate inquiry commission without success.

Pelosi was convicted at first instance of atti osceni, aggravated theft and voluntary homicide with unidentified accomplices, receiving a sentence of 9 years, 7 months and 10 days. The appeal court found it 'extremely improbable' that Pelosi had one or more accomplices, and the Court of Cassation confirmed that ruling in 1979. Pelosi was freed after serving his sentence on 23 September 2009. Over the years he gave new accounts of the night of the murder, which investigators never verified.

What the new file rests on

The request filed in November 2025 drew on data analysis, Rai archive footage and new readings of the existing evidence. According to scientific analyses cited in the file, DNA profiles that cannot be attributed to Pelosi alone were found on Pasolini's clothing and on an insole. Under the alternative hypotheses those findings would point to several people being present at the scene.

“As highlighted for almost 18 years, the judicial truth that attributed sole responsibility to Giuseppe Pelosi has been swept away by the scientific evidence we requested.”

Appeal to witnesses

Maccioni said he was moved and satisfied by the prosecutors' decision. He said the defence hopes the Rome prosecutors will finally answer questions it has pursued for many years. He also urged anyone who has kept quiet about what they know to come forward and speak. The file is now in the hands of Silvia Santucci.