Woman’s death sparks speculation over Ticino councillor’s resignation

The death of a 52-year-old woman in Lake Lugano has fuelled speculation because she secretly recorded a telephone call with Ticino government councillor Claudio Zali. SRF reported that the recordings contributed to Zali’s decision to resign, but authorities have found no proven link between his case and the woman’s death.

The woman was an acquaintance of Zali and had published the disputed recording on social media at the end of July. In the call, she asked Zali for advice after apparently being stalked by another woman. Zali advised her to beat up the alleged stalker and said he had done so himself when the woman came to his home. The caller replied that she could not assault the other woman.

Zali is responsible for justice and police matters as a member of the cantonal government. The publication of the conversation contributed significantly to his decision to resign at the end of September. He remains in office for almost another month.

After the recording was published, the woman was apparently attacked and injured by an unknown person near Melide, in Lugano. She went to an emergency department and filed a complaint against an unknown perpetrator. She died just over a week later.

She was found close to the shore of the lake, near the place where she had been attacked 10 days earlier. Emergency responders attempted to revive her, but she could not be saved. An autopsy found that third-party involvement could be ruled out on the basis of traumatic and pathological examinations. Authorities therefore believe she drowned because there were no other indications. Police said a toxicological screening was still pending.

The woman’s history has led to widespread speculation, with media outlets linking her death to the Zali case. Her lawyer has ruled out suicide, saying the woman had been in good spirits and had plans for the future. The public prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal investigation and is questioning witnesses.

Zali is already the subject of a separate criminal investigation into alleged abuse of office. He is accused of intervening on behalf of an acquaintance’s son, who was in pretrial detention as a minor. Zali has not appeared in public since the telephone conversation was published. Political motions have also called on the cantonal government to clarify whether he should still have access to files and documents. No answer has been given so far.