A 16-year-old boy has confessed to pushing his 13-year-old ex-girlfriend, Aurora Tila, to her death from a seventh-floor balcony in Piacenza, Italy, after maintaining for months that she had taken her own life. The teenager, who was 15 at the time of the killing in October 2024, admitted the murder during a video link from a juvenile prison on Sunday as he appealed a 17-year prison sentence.
Confession and Apology
During the appeal hearing, the boy apologized for killing Aurora and for waiting so long to admit the truth. His confession came after detectives found that his initial account of her falling did not match the evidence. Lawyer Emilio Malaspina, representing Aurora's mother, said: "With confession a circle closes. But we hope that the court will confirm the sentence which established an appropriate penalty."
Relationship and Stalking
According to prosecutors, the pair had been in a relationship for several months before separating due to the boy's allegedly possessive behavior. Investigators uncovered messages in which Aurora told friends she felt persecuted by her ex-boyfriend, described him as stalking her, and even asked an AI service for advice on how to deal with him.
Witness Testimony
A witness told police they saw Aurora clinging to the balcony railing while the boy struck her hands, causing her to fall. During the original trial, a former cellmate also claimed the teenager admitted pushing Aurora. The court convicted him of murder, finding the offence aggravated by stalking, the victim's age, and the former relationship.
Family Reaction
Aurora's older sister, Viktoria, publicly rejected suggestions that Aurora had taken her own life, stating Aurora was afraid of her ex-boyfriend and citing messages showing her fear. Following Sunday's confession, Malaspina noted: "We have listened and taken note of something that, in reality, we already knew. This is a confession that came very late and it will be the court that will assess its weight during the discussion." He added that if the confession were used to reduce the sentence by three or four years, it would be unfair.
Appeal Adjourned
The appeal hearing has been adjourned until September 10, while the court awaits a report on the teenager's behavior in juvenile prison.
