Tunisian Migrant Convicted in Brutal Femicide as Italy Faces Immigration Backlash

The Modena Court of Assizes has sentenced 30-year-old Tunisian citizen Mohamed Bedoui Gaaloul to 30 years in prison for the murder of 32-year-old Alice Neri, a young mother from Ravarino, whose burned body was discovered in the trunk of her torched car in a remote area of Concordia in November 2022.

The sentence, handed down by Presiding Judge Ester Russo, also includes a five-year probation period, full payment of court costs, and financial compensation exceeding €1.8 million to the victim’s family and advocacy organizations.

The court found Gaaloul guilty of stabbing Neri at least seven times and setting her body on fire using accelerants, including an oil can found at the scene bearing his DNA. The prosecution, led by Claudia Natalini and Giuseppe Amara, stated that the evidence established Gaaloul’s guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Surveillance footage, witness testimony, and forensic analysis proved critical to the conviction.

Shortly after the murder, Gaaloul fled Italy and was arrested in France under a European Arrest Warrant. He has maintained his innocence, and his attorney, Roberto Ghini, confirmed plans to appeal the conviction.

“My client is at peace. The next step will be an appeal,” Ghini told reporters, criticizing the verdict as driven by “instinct, not rationality.”

In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Gaaloul to pay:

• €1,000,000 to Neri’s young daughter
• €600,000 to her mother, Patrizia Montorsi
• €200,000 to her brother, Matteo Marzoli
• €10,000 each to the women’s rights organizations UDI and Casa delle Donne
• All legal fees incurred by the civil plaintiffs

The courtroom erupted in applause as the verdict was read, followed by a tearful embrace between Neri’s grieving mother and brother.

“I’m the only one who comes out a loser in all this,” said Montorsi. “This isn’t justice — justice would be having my daughter here.”

Her son, Matteo, echoed the sentiment:

“I don’t call it justice. This is the enforcement of the law. Justice would mean my sister is alive.”

Civil attorneys Cosimo Zaccaria and Marco Pellegrini praised the investigative work of the Carabinieri and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, but also condemned the secondary victimization that Alice Neri faced during the course of the trial.

“Alice was an exceptional woman, and unfortunately, her reputation was trampled on at various stages,” said Pellegrini. “This was a difficult, complex trial, but we proved the defendant’s guilt and did everything possible to restore Alice’s dignity.”

A Tragic Symbol of a Broader Crisis

The case has reignited national outrage over femicide in Italy, particularly as the Senate advances new legislation addressing gender-based violence. It has also drawn renewed scrutiny to Italy’s immigration system, as Gaaloul — a non-citizen — had prior run-ins with law enforcement and fled the country with ease following the murder.

Critics argue that lax border controls and political negligence enabled a preventable tragedy. Alice Neri joins a growing list of women whose lives were taken by illegals with no legal or cultural allegiance to the country they exploited.

While Gaaloul prepares his appeal, a family mourns and Italy is left asking: How many more Alicias must be sacrificed before decisive action is taken?

Rest in peace, Alice. May your daughter grow up in a country that honors your memory by protecting its own.

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