After 75 days of detention in Albania, Michele D'Angelo, a biology professor at the University of L'Aquila, who was arrested and sent to prison in August, returned to Italy overnight. The 44-year-old left Tirana at around 6:00 p.m. yesterday, Thursday, October 23, together with his fiancée, Vanessa Castelli.
After landing at Rome's Fiumicino airport shortly after midnight, he then headed to L'Aquila. The competent authorities, both Italian and Albanian, have decided to maintain maximum discretion until the end of the transfer. The professor, now free on bail after more than two months in prison, must only comply with the obligation of periodic reporting (signing).
"Michele is very tired, but we can say that a nightmare is over, now we can breathe," said Castelli, who during these months had made several calls to return her partner to Italy and had followed the entire development of the case with concern.
D'Angelo was arrested on August 8 after an accident on the Levan-Fier road, where a teenager was killed. Four other people were injured. In the collision in question, his Lancia Ypsilon was hit by a Mercedes, driven by an Albanian citizen who allegedly lost control of the vehicle due to high speed.
D'Angelo was traveling at about 40 kilometers per hour and, after the collision, had left the vehicle. This action was considered by Albanian authorities as abandoning the vehicle and violating traffic rules. Meanwhile, his lawyers have described it as an instinctive reaction and not an attempt to escape. The investigation is expected to be completed in mid-November.
A few days ago, after receiving the news of his imminent return, the rector of the University of L'Aquila, Fabio Graziosi, had expressed his satisfaction: "We are very happy that Professor Michele D'Angelo, our esteemed colleague, will be able to return to Italy soon," he had declared.
"As a university, from the first days after the events involving Prof. D'Angelo, we have mobilized, standing by his wife and family, and have carefully and discreetly followed the development of the situation."
Even the mayor, Pierluigi Biondi, expressed his satisfaction: "I await with deep satisfaction the news of the beginning of the procedures for the release of Michele D'Angelo, our fellow citizen detained in Albania since last August," he said.
"During these months, silent, concrete and determined work has been done, where from the beginning the embassies and consulates have been engaged through the Farnesina, Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli and all his staff, to whom I express my sincere thanks for the readiness, attention and sensitivity shown."
"Since the first days, when I was contacted by my partner Vanessa, we have closely followed the development of the situation - he explained - It has been difficult and painful, but today a feeling of gratitude prevails: to those who have worked away from the media spotlight and to all those who, with respect and a sense of institutional responsibility, are contributing to bringing Michele home."
"We are confident that all aspects of the case will be clarified and that he will be able to leave this sad period behind."
