The Bloodstained Butterfly (1971) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Marchi was convicted primarily because he was seen fleeing the park scene shortly after the murder, and Françoise reportedly had motive to report him for a past groping incident. The prosecution argued he killed her to silence her accusation. However, his lawyer Giulio Cordaro deliberately withheld a stronger defense to protect his affair with Marchi's wife Maria, compromising the trial's integrity.

• marchi conviction
• françoise murder trial
• courtroom drama
• motive to silence

Cordaro was having an affair with Maria, Marchi's wife. To avoid a more aggressive defense that might have cleared Marchi and exposed Cordaro's personal betrayal, he deliberately held back evidence and arguments. This conflict of interest tainted the entire first trial and contributed to Marchi's wrongful conviction.

• giulio cordaro
• affair
• maria marchi
• conflict of interest
• lawyer betrayal

Giorgio, the young pianist who dated Sarah Marchi, was revealed as the killer of the prostitute and the third woman. He murdered these women in the same park using similar methods to Françoise's killing, believing that Marchi had murdered Françoise during their earlier encounter.

Foreshadowing: Giorgio's aggressive behavior toward Sarah during their relationship hinted at his violent potential.

• giorgio killer
• prostitute murder
• serial killings
• park murders
• pianist

Giorgio believed that Alessandro Marchi had murdered Françoise Pigaut when he fled the park scene. His murders of the prostitute and third woman were driven by a twisted sense of vengeance, targeting women in the same location where he believed Marchi committed his crime. He wanted to draw attention to what he viewed as Marchi's guilt.

• giorgio motive
• vengeance
• killings belief
• justice crime

Giorgio was Françoise's lover, a fact that remained hidden throughout much of the investigation. This personal connection to the first victim explains his intense belief in Marchi's guilt and his subsequent killing spree as a form of perceived righteous vengeance.

• françoise lover
• giorgio relationship
• hidden connection
• secret relationship

During the confrontation in the abandoned building, Marchi ultimately confessed to killing Françoise. The confession came amid the chaos of Giorgio's revelation and attack. After shooting Giorgio, Marchi attempted to flee but was killed by Giorgio in the final confrontation, making his confession part of the tragic climax.

• marchi confession
• admission guilt
• final confrontation
• killer reveal

Marchi was granted a retrial after his mistress Marta Clerici was introduced as a witness. The new trial revealed weaknesses in the original prosecution's case and exposed the compromised defense led by Cordaro. The court overturned the conviction and released Marchi, though the mystery of the true killer remained unresolved until the final confrontation.

• retrial
• marta clerici
• conviction overturned
• release innocence

Inspector Berardi visited the store where the murder weapon was purchased. The shop owner provided crucial information that narrowed down the suspects to Giorgio, connecting him to the switchblade used in the park murders. This clue became pivotal in solving the case.

• switchblade shop
• weapon clue
• berardi investigation
• store suspect

The taunting caller who threatened to kill again was Giorgio himself. He deliberately taunted Inspector Berardi to escalate the investigation and draw attention to the park murders, furthering his scheme to expose what he believed was Marchi's guilt.

• taunting calls
• phone threats
• killer taunts
• berardi harassment

Giorgio entered into a relationship with Sarah while harboring violent tendencies. The relationship served as his access point to the Marchi family and the case. His aggressive behavior toward Sarah foreshadowed his darker nature, and his position as Sarah's boyfriend made him proximity to the investigation.

Foreshadowing: Giorgio's aggressive incident with Sarah during a night together was an early warning of his violent capabilities.

• giorgio sarah
• dating relationship
• inside access
• marchi family

Giorgio shot Marchi after his confession, then Marchi stabbed Giorgio as he checked for death. In the final reversal, dying from his wound, Giorgio shot Marchi dead. Giorgio died with a smile, completing his twisted plan of vengeance. The ending underscores the film's bleak view of justice, with the true killer and the wrongly accused both dying.

• final confrontation
• double death
• giorgio marchi
• bleak ending