A former police chief has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally shooting his traffic-warden lover in the face “to save his marriage”.
Giampiero Gualandi was sentenced yesterday (20 Nov) after a nine-month trial.
Gualandi, then 64, shot his former colleague, Sofia Stefani, with his service pistol on 16 May, 2024.
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The two were having an affair at the time, despite Sofia being engaged.
Gualandi’s lawyers claimed the shot was accidental, fired during a struggle after Sofia, 33, attacked him.
However, forensic tests found no fingerprints or DNA of hers on the Glock.
The court in Bologna, Italy, convicted Gualandi, now 65, of murder, with one aggravating factor related to their emotional bond.
Prosecutors argued the killing inside the Anzola dell’Emilia town police headquarters was intentional, aimed at saving Gualandi’s marriage.
Sofia’s mother, Angela Querzè, told local media the shot was fired “almost at point-blank range”.
Gualandi’s wife had discovered the affair on 30 April, as reported by NeedToKnow.
He had claimed it ended in February, but messages from Sofia’s phone showed the relationship continued until the day of the murder.
From 30 April onwards, Sofia repeatedly tried to contact Gualandi’s wife to tell her the truth.
“He knew she would not give up,” prosecutor Lucia Russo told the court.
Sofia suffered from borderline personality disorder and was on psychiatric medication.
Her mother said: “I believe Sofia was manipulated, and it was really severe and persistent.”
Gualandi had promised Sofia she would become his deputy when he regained his position – a prospect witnesses described as unrealistic given her disciplinary record.
He also promised to leave his wife for her, and had her sign a “sexual submission contract”.
Prosecutors argued these promises were designed to keep her under his control.
The court also ordered a total of €1.7m in compensation to Sofia’s parents, her fiancé, and the Anzola local authority.
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