A second chance

"I blame the person who shot me for interrupting a conversation between me and my husband," and for taking away from my daughters the person I had chosen for them, to help them grow. All of us are forced, day after day, to witness this suspended life." Angelica Musy is, first and foremost, a woman from whom life has taken her most precious possession. Widow of Alberto, a lawyer, university professor, and city councilor, who was shot outside his home in Turin in March 2012. He died after 19 months in a deep coma. Angelica was left alone with four young daughters and a life to rethink, but with a clear will: not to remain a prisoner of that tragedy. Years lived with profound dignity: the trial of Francesco Furchì, found responsible for the murder and sentenced to life in prison. Above all, the creation of the Angelica and Alberto Musy Fund to try to respond to evil with good, funding work placements for prisoners.

Why commit yourself to prison?
Alberto's murder was a huge event, not just for us. I believe that whoever killed my husband made an extraordinarily grave mistake. Over time, I felt the need to prevent my family from suffering that mistake. I owed it to Alberto, to our daughters. Our project was born from there. We chose prison because it is one of the most marginalized areas of our society. We wanted to support prisoners with long sentences, helping them study and take control of their lives. Anyone who shows they want to change course deserves an opportunity.

What kind of humanity have you encountered behind bars?
Turin's prison is overcrowded with over 1,500 inmates. It's a very complicated situation. First of all, inmates experience loneliness firsthand and often lose contact with their families. Suffice it to say that only two half-hour meetings a month are possible with loved ones. The rest of the time is filled with thoughts, often dark and worried. And it's a paradox: in prison, there are no places to be alone, even though everyone is truly alone. There's nowhere to cry! In this context, however, there are those who want to start over, and our commitment demonstrates that it's worth it.

Common sense fuels a punitive idea of ​​prison, even though the Constitution says otherwise and speaks of reintegration and re-education. However, the recidivism rate among prisoners is extremely high. Has the system failed?
The data is terrible; we're talking about a 70% recidivism rate. These numbers could be avoided if everyone were given a real chance at rebirth. With our project, the numbers have been drastically reduced. And this is a good thing both for the prisoner and for society, which would save a lot of money. If only the constitutional text were respected…

The other side of the coin is that of the victims of crime. We often forget them along the way…
It's crucial to talk about the victims, who are often overlooked. I'm thinking of our case: we had to follow Alberto's entire hospital stay, then the entire trial, which was long and not always easy to understand. Not to mention the psychological toll. The state could take care of the victims in one way: doing everything it can to make the guilty understand that there's no point in continuing to commit evil, that it's worth choosing good. It's like when two children argue: it's not enough to just punish them, but to discuss with them the reasons and the need to change their behavior. I believe in restorative justice, even if I couldn't follow that path since the convicted person has always professed his innocence. But it's a serious process, essential for sharing one's story, for putting the humanity of the people involved at the center.

What has helped you over the years?
In my story, it's been important not to feel alone. I've always had my family by my side. Since my daughters are very young, to overcome loneliness, I chose to open up to the city, to get to know people and see if we shared values. We've always talked about what was happening around us, we've tried to preserve the happiness we've always experienced together. Just as we desire a second chance for prisoners, we must realize that each of us always has the right to a second chance.

Has forgiveness also played a part in this journey?
Freedom and forgiveness are closely linked. I believe in freedom, and I want to be free, above all, from the bonds of resentment. Hatred and resentment would prevent me from seeing the reality around me and living peacefully with my family. A freedom to also live through my own pain, especially at home with my children, in a coherent way, since you can't lie to them. Forgiveness is free; for me, it came quickly. For many, it takes years. I felt the need to let go of the resentment because I owed it to my daughters, to the need to rebuild our lives.

What did Alberto leave behind?
Alberto had a great culture, a great vision, he helped me understand everyday life. He left behind four daughters of whom he would be very proud, with his gaze, with his desire to put himself on the line for others.


Edited by the Editorial Staff
NP June / July 2025