A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL DIED. THE GUILTY PARTY IS FREE. WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR KETTY.

If she were your daughter, you wouldn’t accept this verdict. Sign for Ketty. 

IN BRIEF

What happened:

• Ketty, 17 years old, died on February 12, 2021, in a car accident in Grancia, Lugano.
  The car was traveling at 105 km/h in a zone with a 30 km/h speed limit.
• The impact was extremely violent: Ketty died instantly.

 

Why this petition:

• The driver was convicted, but received a minimal sentence that he will never serve in prison.
• Prosecutor Margherita Lanzillo is the only one who can file an appeal, but she has chosen not to.
• We demand justice—not only for Ketty, but for every young person whose life has been cut short by someone else’s recklessness.

What you can do:
Sign this petition to urge the Prosecutor to file an appeal and to give dignity to this tragedy. One life cannot be worth just one year of punishment.

For Ketty. For all the Kettys of the world. 

 

 

PRELUDE

On February 12, 2021, Ketty, a 17-year-old girl, died in a fatal car accident caused by a reckless driver who was speeding at 105 km/h in a zone with a 30 km/h speed limit. The impact was so violent that she died instantly.

Ketty was on a private road behind the parking lot of the Grancia shopping center, a residential area where the speed limit is 30 km/h. For years, residents had reported that this road was frequently the scene of dangerous races and reckless maneuvers, yet no action was ever taken. It took the death of a young girl to finally prompt someone to intervene, and only then were minimal measures possibly adopted to restrict access to that stretch after the stores closed.

Ketty died decapitated. It is important to specify this, even though the newspapers and institutions often remained silent about the brutality of the facts, as if trying to soften the harsh reality.

This was not an accident. It was manslaughter with eventual intent, as recognized by the first-instance judge, Amos Pagnamenta.

We have decided to write this petition because we believe justice has not been served. The final sentence at the second instance, after a disorganized trial lacking human respect, left our family devastated twice: first with the loss of Ketty, then with the humiliation in court in May 2025.

After years on the sidelines, it is not easy for us to find the words. We have always been discreet about this incident, but now the need for justice outweighs our silence. We live with a double pain: that of loss and that of injustice. There is only one last avenue to see the truth recognized: an appeal to the Federal Tribunal. But we cannot pursue it ourselves; the only one who can is the Public Prosecutor, Mrs. Margherita Lanzillo. This petition is our composed, respectful, yet determined cry, asking her to take action. At the end of this text, you will also find a brief account of what really happened that night.

But now, allow us to explain why this cause concerns you as well. 

WHY WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP NOW

In Switzerland, road homicides are not officially recognized as such. There is no specific law like in other countries, no justice for the victims, and those who die are often forgotten twice: by life itself and by the State. In Italy, the crime of road homicide has existed for years. In Switzerland, it still does not. That is why today we face a verdict that leaves us speechless.

We do not seek revenge. We seek justice. Justice that clearly states that life has value. That anyone who takes a car and uses it as a means to chase adrenaline, fully aware of the risks, cannot be treated as just an “unfortunate young man.” We are tired of reading phrases like “his life is ruined,” when the life truly ended is Ketty’s. And with her, a huge part of ours, her family’s, ended too. 

 

 

THE LAST CHANCE: WHY WE ARE ASKING PROSECUTOR LANZILLO TO ACT

We have spoken by phone with Public Prosecutor Margherita Lanzillo, the only person who currently has the power to appeal to the Federal Court. She is the one, and only one, who can give Ketty a final chance to obtain justice.

Unfortunately, she informed us that she does not intend to proceed, believing that the decision of the second instance would most likely be upheld by the Federal Court as well.

We do not wish to judge this position, but we firmly believe that when one has the power to change something, especially in the name of justice, one must find the courage to do so, even if it is difficult. This is why we are asking for your support: with your signatures, we want to strengthen that right choice, the one that allows us to still believe that justice can truly matter for everyone, including those who can no longer speak. 

 

 

THE KILLER

At the time of the incident, on February 12, 2021, the killer, Davide Santos Gonçalves, was already an adult. This matters greatly, especially at that age, when even two or three years can make a world of difference in terms of maturity and responsibility. He had a driver’s license, claimed to be an experienced driver because he took long trips, and believed himself far more capable than he actually was.

This was not about illegal street racing, we want to clarify. He was simply reckless: driving at extreme speeds purely for the thrill of adrenaline, even with passengers in the car. He himself said it gave him relief when he was feeling unwell, as if the car was a weapon to ease his personal struggles. A conscious and repeated behavior, carried out at the expense of his own life, the lives of his passengers, and pedestrians.

Ketty and the killer, as recorded in the case files, met inside the car when she was urged to get in while he had gone to the restroom. He got behind the wheel and found an unknown girl sitting beside him. Their acquaintance lasted only those few seconds before the fatal crash.

The killer didn’t even ask who was getting into the car: whoever wanted to get in, got in. He didn’t bother to look at Ketty’s face. She never asked him to speed, never asked for a thrill. He didn’t even know who she was.

It was all for himself. The car was the stage. He was the rockstar. He didn’t do it to entertain others, but to gain approval and applause, to fill a void of self-esteem.

The killer has rebuilt a new life in Zurich, where he studies physics at the Polytechnic, one of the toughest universities in the world. Since committing the murder, he has managed to complete his Bachelor’s degree, is already attending Master’s courses, and is ready to graduate. From 2021 to today, he has passed extremely difficult exams and continued his studies as if nothing had happened.

Except for the road accident expert, no other specialist has ever evaluated him. No psychiatric assessments, no thorough analyses, despite his highly dangerous behavior. Between the murder and the first trial, he even had the audacity to start the process to regain his driver’s license: a clear sign of how little he cares about the consequences of his actions.

From 2021 to 2025, he has lived in complete freedom, while Ketty died. During these years, he completed his Bachelor’s degree. Meanwhile, every member of our family has suffered devastating and lasting physical, psychological, and financial damage. Ketty’s mother now lives at the cemetery, because while he is free, Ketty rests in a grave.

It is not his life that ends if he serves 3 years and 6 months in prison. It is ours that ended on February 12, 2021.

How many of you have moved abroad, completely changing your lives? Who had to uproot their routines for work or love? How many rebuilt themselves after trauma?

And are we really concerned about “ruining” the life of a 25-year-old who, even after prison, will hold a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in physics from the Polytechnic of Zurich? Are we joking? He too will be able to rebuild his life, just like everyone else.

It is not right to avoid paying for the damage one causes.

And here is the truth: he consciously chose to put others’ lives at risk, and Ketty died because of this selfish choice.

But who is really paying?

 

 

THE FIRST TRIAL: THE ONLY MOMENT OF TRUTH

We waited two long years to reach the first trial. And it was there, in that courtroom, that for the first and only time, we truly felt heard. The court of first instance, presided over by Judge Amos Pagnamenta, represented a rare example of rigor, respect, and humanity. The verdict was clear: 3 years and 6 months in prison, with the entire sentence to be served. A punishment that, while in our view insufficient given the horrific and unjust death of a 17-year-old girl, we nevertheless accepted. We did so because, for two days, we witnessed a judge working with conscience, clarity, and courage.

Judge Pagnamenta did what no one else did afterwards: he held the killer accountable for his actions. He pressed him, questioned him, pushed him to reveal his true self. And it was in that very courtroom that his real personality emerged: a young man burdened with personal problems who deliberately chose to vent his frustration on teenagers, not by mistake, but with complete indifference to the lives of others.

Regarding the so-called remorse, Judge Pagnamenta saw through that as well: he understood that the apologies were merely a formality, devoid of any real emotion or awareness. In court, he asked the killer:
“A truly remorseful person might at least offer to contribute to the expenses, no?”
The response? “I have no money.”
And the judge, with humane firmness, replied:
“Even just bringing flowers to Ketty’s grave would have been a gesture.”
Nothing. No gesture. No step toward moral responsibility.

That trial ended with a scene that left us bewildered: several police officers physically took the young man away. For a moment, we thought they were taking him directly to prison. But no. They were merely escorting him out the back door.
And from there, he returned to his life.
He never served a single day in jail. His sentence remained only on paper.

As a family, we wish to publicly thank Judge Amos Pagnamenta. His conduct, sensitivity, and profound sense of justice will always be etched in our minds. He was the only one to truly show what it means to honor the truth and to give dignity to the victim. 

 

 

THE SECOND TRIAL: AN INSULT TO KETTY’S MEMORY

The second trial, held two years after the appeal, was a humiliation for our family. Presided over by judge Giovanna Roggero-Will, it took place during a rushed morning session, lacking any depth or the necessary space to address the gravity of what had happened.
The judge, visibly tired and impatient, paced back and forth, rubbing her back as if she just wanted to finish as quickly as possible. She asked the killer superficial questions like, “What are you studying?” “Do you have a girlfriend?” No examination of the crime, no serious confrontation. No attempt, as Judge Pagnamenta had made, to confront him with his moral responsibility.

In that courtroom, the victim’s family did not exist.
Throughout the trial, the falsehood that Ketty was “friends” with the killer was repeatedly stated. One of Ketty’s sisters, with great politeness, asked to speak, introducing herself and clarifying—according to the court records—that Ketty did not know the killer. She met him for the first time inside the car, just seconds before she died.
When the sister tried to describe Ketty’s condition after the impact, the judge abruptly interrupted her and coldly told her to sit down.
Ketty’s father, shocked by the lack of empathy, attempted to intervene and was threatened with removal from the courtroom. The judge rang her bell to silence him, as if he were an intruder rather than the father of an innocent victim.

Then came the final blow to our hearts: Ketty’s mother, overwhelmed by the lies she was hearing, fainted and hit her head on the floor. No one stood up. No one called an ambulance. The judge simply asked for her to be taken out as quickly as possible because she was “slowing down the trial.” As if she were an obstacle, not a grieving mother. The judge never asked how she was doing. Not even at the end.

That day, the verdict wasn’t even read aloud. It arrived two weeks later in writing. The decision: 3 years in prison, with 2 years suspended and only 1 year to be served, and likely not even in jail. We were told that the execution judge would decide, but it was “very likely” to be served with an electronic bracelet.
Why? Because the sentence is only 3 years, not 3 years and 1 day. If it had been even one day longer, the full sentence would have had to be served.

Judge Roggero-Will also accepted the killer’s “sincere remorse,” a rarity in Swiss courts.
But what remorse? He never wrote a letter. He never reached out. He never truly apologized. He merely read a note, written by his lawyers, standing up.
Yet the judge decided it was enough.
She ignored everything a judge like Pagnamenta would have rigorously and humanely examined, and instead chose the easiest path.

The result?
A total reversal of the punishment.
A humiliation for Ketty, for her memory, and for her family.
And a disgrace for justice itself. 

 

 

THE LEGAL SUPPORT THAT NEVER EXISTED

As a family, we entrusted the Galliani law firm. In hindsight, we can sadly say it was a mistake. We had explicitly requested that Maria Galliani herself handle our case. She initially agreed but then literally vanished, leaving us in the hands of another lawyer from her firm. She never showed up to the initial meetings, refused to attend the first trial despite our explicit requests, and also declined participation in the second trial, which we had requested well in advance, never offering a clear explanation.
One of Ketty’s sisters tried to contact her but never received a response.

We sensed from the firm a complete lack of seriousness, commitment, and genuine will to defend us. In fact, from the very beginning, we were told that the killer “would never serve a single day in prison.” So we ask: what kind of justice is this? Why did it take two years to reach the first trial in a case with such massive media attention? Why another two years to get to the second, after the appeal? Perhaps to make the public forget everything? Then justify the decision by saying that “he’s already 25 years old and has rebuilt his life”?

Misguided by those who should have protected us, the Galliani firm discouraged us from appealing, calling the 3 years and 6 months sentence “already significant.” In those crucial 30 days to act, we did not file an appeal, trusting the killer’s words, who had repeatedly said, “I will pay for everything I have to pay.”
But then it was precisely he who appealed, carefully choosing not to contest the main charge, negligent homicide with eventual intent, which had already been confirmed, but instead challenging every other possible aspect, even the serious bodily injury charges.

We remind those reading: Ketty died decapitated.
All passengers were sober, seatbelts fastened, windows closed.
The car was traveling at 105 km/h in a 30 km/h zone.
And yet, after years of waiting, what we have obtained is not justice: it is a slap in the face to every logic, every value, and every human sense of responsibility.

Is this justice? 

KETTY, THE LIGHT WE MISS EVERY DAY

And finally, we want to dedicate these words to her — Ketty. She was, and will forever be, the light of our eyes and our hearts. We are not here to defend her out of bias, but because she truly deserves it. Ketty was a gentle soul: wherever she went, she brought simplicity, smiles, and authenticity. She was a rare girl, one of those you hardly find nowadays. She accepted herself as she was, without filters. She loved helping others, and through that, she managed to save even a couple of lives, one right before our very eyes.

She wasn’t afraid of life: she wanted to live it. Her eyes were full of light, her heart full of sunshine, and her smile pure joy. Like all 17-year-old girls, she went through moments when emotions, perceptions, and decisions can be influenced by hormones and by close relationships. She was involved with an older boyfriend, who had a driver’s license and was present that night. We do not wish to judge anyone, except the one who caused Ketty’s death, but we want to bring truth and clarity, because it is only right to do so.

Ketty had suffered from motion sickness since she was a child. Getting into a car often meant nausea and medication for her. The tragic irony is that she died in a car, on a reckless ride. In the days before her death, she wasn’t well: she was anemic, having nightmares, feeling weak both physically and emotionally. That evening, she was also experiencing a heavy menstrual cycle, and anyone who knows such pain understands how debilitating it can be.

When she died, we took her phone to try to understand. We didn’t want to believe it: Ketty would never have wanted to get into that car. Her chats with her boyfriend confirm this: he told her about rides with that guy who drove very fast, inviting her to try. Ketty always replied no, that she wasn’t interested. She said she was tired. That night, she wasn’t even supposed to go out, she wasn’t feeling well. There are no messages where she says she wanted to get in, only clear signs of refusal to take part in those crazy rides.

Some have had the audacity to judge our mother for letting her go out. But what parent hasn’t allowed their 17-year-old daughter to go out on a Friday night at 9 PM, returning before midnight? As if Ketty were supposed to live chained inside the house… impossible. She loved life; she loved being outside, breathing the world.

That ride, the first of the night, was also the last. We firmly believe that if she had seen what was happening from the outside, she would never have gotten in. That seat wasn’t even meant for her, but for another girl who today still struggles with guilt. The switch happened because others, including the boyfriend, convinced her to sit in the front seat due to her nausea. In the end, yes — she got in, for those who keep asking.

But we know, from the messages and, above all, from who Ketty was, that she didn’t do it for fun. She never liked speed; in fact, it scared her. She was too young, too tired, too fragile at that moment to say no. And yet, sometimes, that small word, "no", makes the difference between living and dying. 

 

 

WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE DO WE WANT TO SET FOR OUR YOUTH?

Ketty’s story received widespread media attention because it touched something deep and universal: the fragility of life and the thirst for justice. But now, with time having passed, we ask ourselves: what message are we leaving for today’s young people? That you can die at 17 due to someone else’s recklessness, and no one is truly held accountable? That a half-hearted trial and a lenient sentence are enough to close the case on a life cut short?

Young people are watching us. They observe how society treats victims, how the State protects (or ignores) the most vulnerable. If justice does not protect, what can we expect from them? We must have the courage to say that life matters, that those who err must take responsibility, and that indifference kills just as surely as speed does.

Ketty will never come back, but how we respond today can save other lives tomorrow. And that is the only example truly worth giving. 

 

 

SIGN THE PETITION

Let’s pause for a moment. Let’s think of Ketty. Let’s think of a young life shattered by a reckless race. Let’s think of a family destroyed. Let’s think about what we truly expect from a society that calls itself just.

The killer was sentenced to one year, yet will not serve a single day in prison.

If you too believe that a life cannot be worth so little, then join us. If you believe justice should not be blind, but clear-sighted, firm, and courageous; if you believe Ketty deserves respect, truth, and remembrance —

then sign this petition.

Do it for her. For the streets where our children walk. For a justice system that truly serves victims, not perpetrators.

For Ketty. For all the Kettys of the world.

 

The Family of Ketty. 

 

 

🇮🇹 link to the petition in Italian: 

https://chng.it/TYJ8FdY7tF

🇫🇷 link to the petition in French: 
https://chng.it/w9Rp6MfWbf


🇩🇪 link to the petition in German: 
https://chng.it/6k4Twpnkjj