In a tragic and shocking case that gripped Italy, Alessia Pifferi, a 37-year-old woman from Milan, was convicted of the murder of her 18-month-old daughter, Diana, after allegedly abandoning the child alone at home for six days in order to spend time with her ex-boyfriend.

According to court reports and investigations, Pifferi left her daughter in their Milan apartment on July 14, 2022, without any adult supervision, taking only a feeding bottle and a small bottle of water for the child. She traveled to Bergamo to visit her partner, reportedly telling him that Diana was with a babysitter. During the six-day trip, there is no evidence that she made any arrangements to check on the child or return home. On July 20, she returned to find her daughter dead in her crib. Autopsy reports later confirmed that Diana died of starvation and dehydration, likely between July 18 and 20.

When questioned by authorities, Pifferi initially gave conflicting accounts, at one point claiming that her sister had been watching the child. However, her story unraveled under scrutiny, and she was arrested shortly after. During her trial, the prosecution accused her of voluntary homicide aggravated by futile motives, arguing that she had knowingly and deliberately chosen her personal desires over the life of her daughter. They described her as dangerous and manipulative and requested the maximum penalty: life imprisonment.

Pifferi’s defense team argued that she suffered from significant cognitive limitations, including a low IQ and potential psychological disorders, which impaired her judgment. However, court-appointed psychiatric evaluations concluded that while she had some cognitive weaknesses, she was mentally competent and fully aware of her actions at the time of the crime.

In May 2024, the Court of Assizes in Milan found her guilty and sentenced her to life in prison. Although premeditation was not formally recognized in the verdict, the court stated that she understood the gravity of her choices and deliberately neglected her child. The court also ordered that compensation be paid: €20,000 to Diana’s half-sister and €50,000 to Pifferi’s own mother.

Despite the conviction, the case did not end there. In early 2025, during the appeal process, her legal team successfully argued for a new psychiatric evaluation, claiming that her mental health had not been fully and fairly assessed during the initial trial. On February 10, 2025, Alessia Pifferi appeared before the Milan Court of Appeal, where fresh proceedings began. The appeal is currently ongoing, and the results of the new psychiatric examination are expected to influence whether the original life sentence will be upheld or reconsidered.

The death of baby Diana and the subsequent legal battle have sparked national debate in Italy about maternal responsibility, mental health and the protection of vulnerable children. As the appeal unfolds, many continue to follow the case, awaiting justice for the young child whose life was cut tragically short.