Opening, the defense attorneys of the Ukrainian Government objects the relevance of the bond between the defendant, Markiv, and Ukraine claiming that the Government is not responsible for the actions of their own employees if the emanation of the specific order executed is not proven. The Judge rejects their motion for Court dismissing the summons of Ukraine as civil responsible for the Rocchelli’s murder as included in the Rocchelli’s family summons submitted both in July and September, and already accepted then by the Court.
The hearing session was then entirely dedicated to deposition of the eye witness William Roguelon, survived to the attack besides being seriously injured. William was very clear headed and precise when telling what happened in the afternoon of 24th May 2014, answering precisely to the questions of Pavia’s public prosecutor and the lawyers. During the almost 2 hour report, video and photographic material was shown in support of his declaration. Among other things, William recognized the taxi covered in bullet holes framed in a video, and he underlined how the taxi initially had its bright sign and therefore was impossible to confuse it with a military car.
Moreover, he explained how a civil suit parallel to the Italian penal trial, the French Government recognized William as the first journalist victim of war crime and ratified his right to be refunded. And this case will become a precedent in the French jurisprudence.
It was published the agenda for the following hearing: 14th December 2018; 18th and 25th January 2019; 8th e 22nd February; 15th, 22nd and 29th March; 12th April.
Andrea “Andy” Rocchelli è stato ucciso, insieme all’attivista per i diritti umani e interprete Andrei Mironov, il 24 maggio 2014, nelle vicinanze della città di Sloviansk, in Ucraina, mentre documentava le condizioni dei civili intrappolati nel conflitto del Dombass. Il 12 luglio 2019 la Corte d’Assise di Pavia ha condannato Vitaliy Markiv a 24 anni di reclusione per concorso di colpa in omicidio di Andy e Andrei e giudicato lo stato ucraino responsabile delle loro morti. Il 3 novembre 2020 l’imputato è stato scagionato nel processo d’appello per insufficienza di prove. La ricerca di verità e giustizia per Andy Rocchelli è tuttora in corso.
Andrea “Andy” Rocchelli was killed on May 24th 2014, along with the human rights activist and interpreter Andrey Mironov. They were murdered in the outskirts of Slaviansk, Ukraine, while documenting the living conditions of the civilians trapped between the frontlines of the Donbass conflict. On July 12th 2019, the Pavia court of justice condemned Vitaly Markiv to serve 24 years in jail for his contribution to the double murder, and judged the Ukrainian state responsible of Andy’s and Andrey’s deaths. Mr Markiv has been acquitted on November 3rd 2020 for lack of evidence within the appeal process. The quest for truth and justice for Andy Rocchelli is ongoing.
