The lifeless body of Marco Magrin, a 53-year-old homeless man, was discovered on November 30 in a small garage on the outskirts of Treviso. He died from exposure, hunger, and solitude, but his death reveals a complex story filled with doubts and potential twists. Magrin had been living in a house owned by Andrea Berta, an activist with the Django social center, before allegedly being forced to leave. A week prior to Magrin’s death, Berta had staged a protest in the city council, denouncing the inadequacy of local social policies and advocating for the homeless.
In light of this tragedy, Treviso’s Mayor Mario Conte has vowed to investigate further, stating, “I intend to file a report with the prosecutor to clarify the responsibilities in this case.” The situation has drawn sharp criticism from members of the Fratelli d’Italia party, with Senator Raffaele Speranzon questioning Berta’s actions: “If the far-left activist was aware of Magrin’s impoverished state, why did he choose to change the locks on his property instead of alerting social services while protesting against evictions?” Speranzon emphasized that Magrin’s death reflects a tragic indifference to those in need.
Berta has defended himself, claiming that Magrin had been living in the apartment rent-free since October 2022, following the death of his aunt, and that he was unaware of any eviction. Berta cited mounting costs associated with the property, totaling nearly four thousand euros in condominium fees, and insisted that he had not forcibly removed Magrin. Local residents and activists have rallied around the issue, alleging that the mayor’s office ignored multiple requests for help from Magrin, who had expressed desperation on social media just days before his death, highlighting the systemic failures that contributed to this tragedy.
