An indictment against five officers of the carabinieri, Italy's military police force, has been filed by the judge who is carrying out the second investigation into the death of Stefano Cucchi.

Three of the policemen have been charged with murder aforethought, while the other two are accused of slander and false statements. This measure is a new, important step in the never-ending legal process started by Stefano's relatives in an effort to identify those responsible for the cruel ill-treatments Cucchi suffered before dying.

An arrest, and a death

The case dates back to 2009. Stefano Cucchi had been arrested for drugs possession and brought to a local police station; that same night, he started feeling sick and was taken to a hospital, where he's said to have refused medical care.

The following day, at a hearing to validate his arrest, his speech and movement appeared impaired, and there were visible bruises in his face. However, his arrest was validated and he was taken to prison.

The next day, doctors diagnosed him with injuries and bruises on his face and legs, a broken jaw, bleeding bladder, and more injuries to his chest, as well as two fractures in his back. He died five days later, and only then his family was allowed to see him. They released photos of him and started an investigation.

Even though almost eight years have passed, the investigation is still ongoing. At first, doctors and nurses were held responsible and put on trial: three doctors were charged with involuntary manslaughter in 2013, while no police officer was considered responsible in any way.

But by the end of that year, all the suspects had been acquitted by the Court of Appeal.

Family campaign

Despite the court's decision, Stefano's sister, who started a broad media campaign asking for truth and justice over her brother's death, requested a new investigation. And, indeed, a new inquiry was opened in 2015. This time, investigators put under suspicion the police officers who performed the arrest: three of them have been accused of personal injuries and abuse of authority, while two others are charged with slander and perjury.

In the meantime, the doctors involved were again put on trial for involuntary manslaughter. It is worth noting, however, that these charges were brought not because of the injuries suffered by Stefano, but because they were considered culpable for having failed to provide the required medical care.

One year later, the doctors were once again acquitted, as the judges said there is no causal connection between Stefano's beating and his death, which, according to the court, came as a consequence of different health conditions and couldn't possibly be prevented by the doctors.

Police to testify

As for the now, the only people still charged in a case that has become a model of ill-behavior on many sides (in addition to be a paradigmatic example of how crimes involving torture are addressed in Italy) are police officers, those who are most likely to have been the actual perpetrators of the ferocious beating that led to such a tragic ending.

Stefano's sister has no doubt about their responsibilities and is eager to finally hear them testify in court, in the hope of finally getting justice for her brother.