Giuseppe Sasia

Giuseppe Sasia (26 May 1886 – 17 February 1936), known as The Shepherds' Killer and The Haut-Var Killer, was an Italian criminal and serial killer, who, in several months in 1934, killed at least 4 men in Draguignan, France, with the aim of stealing from them. He was later guillotined for his crimes.

Biography Giuseppe Sasia arrived in France at the end of the 19th century, at the age of 10. His father was an Italian farmer who settled in the country with his family. They moved to Les Arcs, and after his father's death, his mother returned to Italy, while he and his brother sold the family property. He bought another farm with his brother, which they also sold at a big profit. Sasia then bought a restaurant in Les Arcs. Sasia lived in a small stone house in the middle of a field. He wasn't very sociable and scared his neighbors, but he did have a girlfriend. He worked for a while at a restaurant in Draguignan, a town where he went to buy ammunition.

At some point, he had an affair with a woman bar owner in Draguignan, who rejected him because he was poor.

Murders His crimes were committed in a particular area; the journalists grouped them under the name of "The Crimes of Haut-Var".

Joseph Roumo Joseph Roumo was murdered in front of his shop in Flayosc, in 1930. He was killed in similar circumstances to the other four victims, but Sasia was never prosecuted for this crime.

Marius Vassal While napping near an oak tree in Taradeau, Marius Vassal, a horticulturist, was shot dead on 4 March 1934. His body was later found hidden, and the hundred francs he was carrying on him were gone. The octogenarian was returning home with provisions when he passed by the place where his soon-to-be-killer was hiding. The latter shot Fernand, stealing his food and the ten francs he was carrying. and his attitude provoked the interest of the policemen.

Sasia declared after his arrest: "I deserve the guillotine".

Trial He was tried before the cour d'assises on 5 November 1935. jurors found him guilty of the four murders and condemned him to the death penalty.

Sasia showed no regret before his conviction. During his detention on death row, he requested the support of an almoner and began to regret his actions. He did not support the approach chosen for his execution and had several crises of despair. After the execution of Niccolini in Avignon, the guillotine was brought to Draguignan.

Sasia was executed on 17 February 1936, at 6:10 on La République Street in front of the Draguignan Prison.

According to his lawyer, his last words were: "It's annoying to die". His body was later buried at the Draguignan cemetery.

Controversy over deportation A controversy arose from the fact that Sasia, an Italian national, had been the subject of a deportation order from the gendarmes since his first conviction. This, however, had not been applied; the prefecture's secretary was accused of favouring extremist immigrants, and thereafter removed from office.