Domenico Santoro, a judge in Milan, has confirmed the arrest of 19-year-old Daniele Rezza, who fatally stabbed 31-year-old Manuel Mastrapasqua and then robbed him of his wireless headphones in Rozzano during the night of October 12. The court has ordered Rezza to remain in San Vittore prison, facing charges of aggravated murder and robbery. In his interrogation, Rezza stated, “When I saw the guy, I wanted to take everything—money, phone, anything I could sell.” He expressed ignorance about the blood on the knife, claiming it was instinctual to dispose of it after the attack.
During the interrogation, Rezza explained that he had planned to rob someone after encountering Mastrapasqua in the dark. His lawyer, Maurizio Ferrari, who later stepped down for personal reasons, noted that while Rezza detailed the incident over an hour and a half, he did not provide any explanation for his sudden decision to commit the robbery. The police detained him the following Saturday at the Alessandria train station after he was spotted wandering aimlessly, where he reportedly said, “I ruined two families.”
Rezza’s attorney emphasized that his client did not realize he had killed Mastrapasqua, stating that he only learned of the victim’s death the following morning. “It was an impulsive act,” the lawyer argued, explaining that Rezza had consumed alcohol that day and was not under the influence of cannabis. Rezza himself recounted in his statement that he had brought a knife for protection, explaining, “I was nervous and just wanted to take something.” He claimed that he only stabbed Mastrapasqua after the victim attempted to fight back.
The circumstances surrounding the murder have been met with shock and outrage, especially from Mastrapasqua’s girlfriend, Ginevra, who lamented, “You shouldn’t have to fear for your life after a day at work.” She expressed her grief over the loss and shared their plans for the future, which included a camping trip that they had scheduled for the following day.
As the investigation continues, Rezza’s father, Maurizio, reported that he disposed of the stolen headphones in a public trash can, unaware of the severity of the situation. He later recounted that his son had told him he might have stabbed someone, but he initially thought it was a joke. As news of the murder spread, the father took his son to the police, a decision that has drawn criticism from Mastrapasqua’s family, emphasizing the tragedy and the broader implications of this crime in the community.
