The Public Prosecutor's Office of Pavia has reopened the investigation into the murder of Chiara Poggi, which occurred in 2007 in Garlasco. The new hypothesis points to Andrea Sempio, a friend of the victim's brother, as the material author of the homicide. Sempio, then 19 years old, allegedly struck Chiara at least 12 times with a blunt object after a rejection. Alberto Stasi, sentenced to 16 years, could be innocent. This judicial twist requires a technical review of the scene. 🔍
Forensic pipeline: from point cloud to impact simulation ⚙️
The ideal forensic workflow for this case would begin with laser scanning of the house on Pascoli Street, capturing the exact geometry of the room where the attack occurred. With high-resolution photogrammetry of the furniture and floor, a textured 3D model would be generated. On this digital twin, experts can simulate the trajectory of the blunt object, calculating the impact angles on Chiara's skull. Computational biomechanics would allow comparing the force needed to produce the 12 wounds with Sempio's physical build in 2007. This pipeline makes it possible to validate whether the dynamics of the attack are compatible with the new accusation or, on the contrary, reinforce Stasi's conviction.
The dilemma of virtual evidence and the risk of confirmation bias ⚖️
3D technology does not lie, but the person operating it can induce errors. If the forensic team builds the simulation starting from the hypothesis that Sempio is guilty, it is easy to adjust the variables so that the model fits. The real technical challenge of the Garlasco case is to create a blind recreation, where all scenarios (including Stasi's) are evaluated with the same parameters. Only then will the forensic pipeline serve procedural truth and not a narrative of the prosecution.
Would you use laser scanning or photogrammetry to document this case?