The harrowing incident of Laura Ziliani’s murder, orchestrated by her own daughters and their lover, has sent shockwaves across Italy. The Court of Assizes of Brescia’s ruling on this heart-rending event was a life sentence for the three culprits, Paola and Silvia Zani – Ziliani’s daughters, and their lover, Mirto Milani. The court’s ruling was based on the premeditated nature of the crime, leading to an additional six months of daytime solitary confinement.
Laura Ziliani, a policewoman, was the mother of the two perpetrators, Paola and Silvia Zani. The tragic end of Ziliani’s life came at the hands of her own flesh and blood. The discovery of Ziliani’s lifeless body led to the life imprisonment of her daughters and their accomplice for their involvement in the crime. The court did not hold back, delivering the maximum penalty to all the accused.
The execution of the crime had a chilling resemblance to a television series plot. The victim was drugged with a muffin laced with benzodiazepines and subsequently strangled. Silvia and Mirto took turns in the act while Paola restrained the victim. Ziliani’s body was then buried near the Oglio River, only to be revealed three months later due to a flood.
Confessions came three months post-arrest when Mirto’s discussions with a cellmate turned into damning evidence against him. As the court declared the life sentences for Paola Zani, Silvia Zani, and Mirto Milani, the trio remained emotionless. The judges agreed with the prosecution’s plea for life imprisonment, emphasising the group’s joint responsibility for the crime.
Laura Ziliani vanished on May 8, 2021, and was found lifeless three months later. The prosecution presented the motive behind the crime as an economic one, with the culprits planning to take over a considerable real estate asset. The court concurred with the prosecution, declaring all three equally culpable for the murder.
Alongside the sentences, the court ordered a provisional sum of 200 thousand euros for the defendants’ disabled sister, enforceable immediately. In addition, the court made provisions for other members of the family affected by the tragedy, acknowledging the emotional impact on them. The former policewoman’s elderly mother, also the grandmother of the accused, was allocated 100 thousand euros, while each of the deceased woman’s two brothers was granted 50 thousand euros. These compensations were likely designed to provide financial support to the bereaved family members.
