Moussa Sangare, the 31-year-old
arrested for allegedly killing Sharon Verzeni, was under "close
surveillance" on Saturday in a cell at the prison of Bergamo
where he is being detained after confessing the murder,
investigative sources said.
Sangare's attorney Giacomo May said that he appeared "in a daze"
when he visited him in prison ahead of a hearing with a
preliminary investigations judge (GIP) to confirm his arrest.
During questioning following his arrest on Friday, Sangare said
he left his home in an occupied building in the town of Susio
near Terno d'Isola about an hour before the murder, armed with a
knife and with the intention of stabbing anyone he met.
Before seeing Verzeni, he allegedly threatened two teens,
according to his account.
Then Sangare saw Sharon Verzeni "watching the stars" with her
earphones on and stabbed her
He said he allegedly apologized to the 33-year-old before
killing her on the night of 29-30 July in Terno d'Isola and she
repeatedly asked him "why" he was stabbing her, investigative
sources said on Saturday.
The 31-year-old said he then fled the scene by bicycle and
changed some of its components over the following days so it
wouldn't be recognized.
He also cut his hair for the same reason, the sources said.
On Friday, Bergamo prosecutor Maria Cristina Rota said " at the
end of a very intense investigation, we were able to identify
the man on the bicycle" seen in video footage from surveillance
cameras fleeing the crime scene who, "when questioned, fully
confessed" the murder.
She also urged the two teens who were allegedly threatened
before the murder to come forward to testify.
Sangare was born in Milan to parents from the Ivory Coast.
He is unemployed and lives just a few kilometres away from Terno
d'Isola where the murder occurred.
Prosecutors requested his arrest over fears he might reiterate
the crime, hide evidence or run away.
Sangare reportedly wanted to become a rapper and had
collaborated with well-known musicians like Izi and Ernia.
He had a police record for domestic abuse against his mother and
sister and was living in an occupied building when he was found
by Carabinieri police and arrested.
He told investigators that he had a "sudden raptus" and could
"not explain" why he killed Verzeni, whom he didn't know, saying
he was "sorry", according to investigative sources.
Investigators, however, believe the murder could have been
premeditated as he had left home armed .
The added that the 31-year-old had a knife throwing target at
home shaped like a person.
On Saturday, the attorney representing Sharon Verzeni's family,
Luigi Scudieri, said he believed Sangare did not kill due to a
'sudden raptus', or a 'fit of rage', challenging reports about
"the absence of premeditation".
Scudieri instead stressed that fact that Sangare left home armed
and, "before killing Sharon, had all the time to threaten two
other people", referring to the two teenagers.
Sangare also told investigators where he hid the murder weapon
in Medalogo, close to the Adda river, and the Carabinieri
police's RIS forensic unit is examining it.
State attorneys are evaluating whether similar murders have
been committed in the past in the area, according to
investigative sources.
Meanwhile after Sangare's arrest, Verzeni's partner Sergio
Ruocco said that, "after a month of uncertainty, the news has
given us a bit of relief, cancelling all insinuations against
us".
Ruocco, who cohabited with Verzeni, a 33-year-old beautician who
worked at a local bar, was questioned several times by police
but was never placed under investigation.
"Nobody will give me back my Sharon but I will always keep her
memory alive and I know this will help me to continue my life".
Flowers, candles and a sign reading "justice has been done" have
been left at the crime scene in Via Castegnate.
A letter also said "Terno is not a safe place anymore".
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