The Yara Gambirasio Case: Beyond Reasonable Doubt

This documentary cought my attention, it is heartbreaking as any similar case would be and I was really interested in finding out what happened but on the half of second episode I had to stop watching because of disturbed timeline. Constant back and forth between various years is making me nervous and I can't follow any more what is happening when. Don't understand the reason behind this but I see it often in documentaries lately especially true crimes. It's purpose is I suppose to make dynamics which is fine but should be made moderately. This just confuses, iritates and makes documentary impossible to follow.

The kidnapping and murder of 13 year old girl Yara Gambirasio could turn out to be one of the most important cases in international criminal history. As one of the pioneers of DNA evidence, Peter Gill has said - 'DNA should never be used alone to convict a criminal, but with a combination of other evidence.'

Never before has a better case been made than in this tragic case, where a very likely probability is that there is currently an innocent man languishing in an Italian for a crime he may well not have committed.

Despite almost shooting itself in the foot, by presenting the facts of the case with two non linear time lines, this documentary never the less presents a balanced view of a case that Italy was so desperate to have an answer for, an innocent man may well have gone to prison for the crime.

The more likely scenario is that a serial killer is still on the loose in Italy who may have been responsible for more than one murder.

The victim, who quite rightly is often at the forefront of this story, was a bright dance student from a normal middle class Italian family. Yara disappeared on a cold winters evening while walking back from the local sports hall to her house, a walk which only would have taken 10-15 minutes.

From the word go several vital mistakes were made in the case. A proper search was not carried out of key premises, nor key potential witnesses including the janitor of the gym until some time later. The victim herself wasn't found for three months, in an area that was already searched several times, suggesting it was highly probable she was placed there at a later date.

A DNA profile was completed from a sample found on the victims body but the way in which was constructed appears to be flawed and convoluted, it was also evidence which later denied to the defence, and an order was given that would effectively destroy the last remaining samples. Other potential scenarios and perpetrators were not followed up, and the entire prosecution was flawed and evidence was manufactured to favour their case.

You really need to see this series for yourself and draw your own conclusions, but I have a feeling history will not be kind to those in this case who have put a local brick layer in prison.

But please, enough with the non-linear narratives.

Talented thirteen year old teenager Yara Gambiraso disappears from her home in a small Italian village. Yara is tragically found dead a few days later, and DNA links local man Massimo.

It's a very well made, balanced and thought provoking series, it makes you Talented thirteen year old teenager Yara Gambiraso disappears from her home in a small Italian village. Yara is tragically found dead a few days later, and DNA links local man Massimo Bossetti.

It's a very well made, balanced and thought provoking series, it makes you question all sorts of points and supposed evidence?

Is an innocent man languishing in a prison, or was some sort of science withheld, and a dodgy conviction brought in to condemn an innocent man? I can't answer that, but one thing is very clear, the trial was a farce all sorts of points and supposed evidence?

Is an innocent man languishing in a prison, or was some sort of science withheld, and a dodgy conviction brought in to condemn an innocent man? I can't answer that, but one thing is very clear, the trial was a farce.

If I had one criticism, it's this, at one point it talks about the glamorisation of those left behind, the victim forgotten, I felt there was an element of that here. At times it does jump about a little, the final two episodes are a lot easier to follow than the first two.

8/10.

This show is TERRIBLE to watch. Not because of the story. The story is sad. The production is terrible. It goes back and forth in time. Why??? It's pointless. Tell the story chronologically. Why not?

Plus, either do it all in ENGLISH or don't do it!! Do a version for Italy if you want to hear Italian. It's terrible to hear both English and Italian at the same time. Very hard to listen to.

They flash who the people are for one tenth of a nanosecond in Italian. Put it in ENGLISH. That is who the customers are in THE USA.

The news reporters are in Italian. Why?? Just do it all in one language. This really takes away from the documentary.

First of all, my condolences to Yara's family.

Now about this movie itself. I really didn't like how in this movie the timeline keeps changing back and forth again and again. So confusing!!! No reason for that at all. It would be way more interesting and easier to watch it with the normal timeline. Also, the translation is annoying . Why not to add a normal doubler translation??? Nowadays, with AI it is so easy to translate to any language you want, and translating can be done even in the original voices.

Overall I think this movie was poorly made, and I wish Netflix had better quality control.