Monday 1 August 2022 09:21 PM Killer who beat Nigerian migrant to death claims 'no racial motive' and was ... trends now
The man filmed beating a Nigerian street vendor to death in broad daylight claimed he was 'not racially motivated' as a judge probed his previous diagnosis with bipolar disorder.
Filippo Ferlazzo, 32, is accused of murdering father-of-two Alika Ogorchukwu, 39, as eyewitnesses filmed the attack in Civitanova Marche, central Italy on Friday.
Defending lawyer Roberta Bizzarri today submitted a formal request for Ferlazzo's psychiatric report.
He has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and recently spent a stint at a local psychiatric hospital, News Italy 24 reported, citing a court in his hometown Salerno.
Horror footage shows a man climb onto Alika and beat him before crushing him to death. Alika, who was married with two children, was seen struggling in the shocking video
Investigating judge Claudio Bonifazi quoted Ferlazzo's lawyer as claiming the accused murderer 'collaborated, apologized and made it clear that there was no racial motivation'.
Alika's autopsy results will be published tomorrow.
The Nigerian embassy in Rome stated: 'The incident occurred on a busy street and infront of shocked onlookers, some of whom made videos of the attack, with little or no attempt to prevent it.'
Ferlazzo reportedly became infuriated when Mr Ogorchukwu told the man's girlfriend she was beautiful, claimed Daniel Amanza, who runs the ACSIM association for immigrants in the Marche region's Macerata province.
An impromptu memorial has been placed at the scene of the crime
Charity Oriachi, wife of slain Alika, cries in the street where her husband was murdered
'This compliment killed him,' Mr Amanza told The Associated Press.
'The tragic fact is that there were many people nearby. They filmed, saying "Stop", but no one moved to separate them,' Mr Amanza said.
The father-of-two's brutal death was filmed by onlookers who made no attempt to physically intervene - sparking outrage online.
Police in Italy arrested Ferlazzo, 32, for the murder of Mr Ogorchukwu, and allegedly stealing the victim's mobile phone, according to local agency ANSA.
Cops used street cameras to track Ferlazzo's movements and arrested him on Saturday.
Local media reported that Ferlazzo is currently being held in the Montacuto prison in Ancona. It is claimed he will not be charged with racism.
'The situation is quite clear, everything seems to have emerged from a
