The Italian Court of Appeal in Genoa on Wednesday reduced the life sentence of Salvatore Aldobrandi, a former restaurateur from Linköping, to 14 years in prison for the murder of Sargonia Dankha, a 21-year-old woman who disappeared from Linköping in 1995. Aldobrandi, Sargonia's ex-boyfriend, had been sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2024 for her murder, a verdict he appealed. The court deliberated for about three hours before announcing the decision, according to multiple reports.
Aldobrandi arrived half an hour late to the appeal hearing, using a crutch, reports said. Sargonia's family did not attend the hearing, citing Aldobrandi's previous aggressive behavior. In an official statement, Sargonia's brother Ninos and mother Ghriba said they experienced his behavior as aggressive and manipulative, and attending a second hearing could affect their mental health and ability to heal. Aldobrandi had been given several warnings during the trial for threatening and disrespectful behavior, according to multiple reports.
We didn't know if it would be possible, to my knowledge it has never been done before. But when we initiated a judicial cooperation with Sweden, and saw what a thorough investigation they had done, we understood that it might be possible.
Sargonia was last seen on November 13, 1995, crossing Trädgårdstorget in Linköping. No body has ever been found. This case marked the first time an Italian citizen was prosecuted in Italy for a murder committed in another country, according to multiple reports. Francesco Rubino, the Italian lawyer representing Sargonia's family, said at a press conference that they were not entirely satisfied with the length of the sentence, but that the confirmation that she was subjected to violence by Aldobrandi and murdered by him was reaffirmed. Rubino also noted that when they initiated judicial cooperation with Sweden and saw the thorough investigation, they understood that prosecution might be possible. According to Östgöta Correspondenten, Ghriba Shabo, Sargonia's mother, described her last words to her daughter: 'See you mom, we'll meet in town on Monday.' They were supposed to meet at four when she finished work to buy kitchen furniture.
The specific mitigating circumstances that led to the sentence reduction remain unclear, as does the reason for the drastic reduction from life to 14 years. It is also unknown what evidence was presented in the appeal that differed from the original trial, and whether the prosecution will appeal the reduced sentence. The location of Sargonia's body has not been discovered.
We are not entirely satisfied with the length of the sentence. But that she was subjected to violence by Aldobrandi, and murdered by him, is confirmed again.
The last words she said to me were: 'See you mom, we'll meet in town on Monday.' We were supposed to meet at four when I finished work and buy kitchen furniture.