Castiglione delle Stiviere, Yana Malaiko’s Femicide: Premeditation Excluded
. The Court of Assizes in Mantova has made public the reasoning behind the sentence issued on March 6, which sentenced Dumitru Stratan to 20 years in prison for the murder of his 23-year-old Ukrainian ex-girlfriend. The judges determined that the crime occurred “in a fit of rage” during a violent argument and excluded the aggravating factor of premeditation, deeming the testimonies regarding previous threats and alleged preparatory behaviors insufficient.
The reconstruction of events revealed that Yana had gone to her sister’s apartment on the evening of January 19 to return a puppy but was followed by Stratan during a moment of conflict. During the argument, in which the young woman disclosed that she had another boyfriend, the man allegedly suffocated and struck her before concealing her body in a suitcase, which was discovered only on February 1. The Court noted the improvisation in the actions taken after the murder and found the defendant’s behavior inconsistent with a premeditated murder plan. This exclusion allowed Stratan to request a plea bargain, thereby reducing his sentence and avoiding a life sentence. Yana’s family has announced their intention to appeal the judges’ decision, expressing deep disappointment and anger at the outcome of the trial.
Italian Version
