World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Rome reopens investigation into Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1975 murder
Rome prosecutors have reopened the investigation into the 1975 murder of Pier Paolo Pasolini, an Italian writer and filmmaker.
Pasolini was found dead near Rome, and Giuseppe “Pino” Pelosi, then 17, was arrested while fleeing in Pasolini’s car and confessed to the killing.
Pelosi later withdrew his confession, saying three unidentified men were responsible; he had spent nearly 10 years in prison.
Stefano Maccioni, the lawyer who sought a new inquiry, says DNA tests found traces of other people at the crime scene and questions whether Pelosi was there.
The circumstances of Pasolini’s death remain unresolved, with past theories including blackmail, a far-right attack or involvement by the mafia.
Maccioni is urging witnesses to come forward as prosecutors examine new material submitted in support of reopening the case.
Rome prosecutors have reopened an investigation into the 1975 murder of writer and filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini.
The new inquiry follows a complaint by lawyer Stefano Maccioni, who has sought a renewed investigation for years.
Maccioni says new evidence supports the complaint and has urged people with information to come forward.
Pasolini was found dead near Rome on November 2, 1975, and Giuseppe “Pino” Pelosi was convicted after confessing to the killing.
Pelosi withdrew his confession in 2005 and blamed three unidentified men.
- Who
- Pier Paolo Pasolini, an Italian writer and filmmaker, was murdered. Rome prosecutors have reopened the case.
- What
- Prosecutors have opened a new investigation into his murder.
- When
- The murder took place in 1975; the new investigation was reported on November 2, 2026.
- Where
- Pasolini was killed in Ostia, near Rome.
- Why
- The inquiry follows a complaint by lawyer Stefano Maccioni based on what he described as new evidence.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Pasolini was killed in Ostia, near Rome.
Pelosi withdrew his confession and blamed three unidentified men with Sicilian accents.
Requests to reopen the investigation were submitted and rejected by prosecutors.
Maccioni submitted a request to reopen the case and later supplemented it.
Rome prosecutors opened a new investigation into Pasolini’s murder.
- Victim
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Place of murder
- Ostia, near Rome
- Date of murder
- November 1–2, 1975
- Lawyer behind complaint
- Stefano Maccioni
- Previous reopening requests
- 2016 and 2023
- New inquiry
- Opened by Rome prosecutors in 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
I appeal to anyone who has information about this case and has not yet had the courage to speak out to do so now.
We hope that the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office can finally provide the answers we have been seeking for too many years and, at the same time, we invite all those who have so far preferred to remain silent about what they know to come forward and speak.