EMPORIA (Virginia) - The voice that arrives from the Jarratt cell  is tired, peaceful.   But no one can speak of resignation.  Derek Rocco Barnabei contests the formalities of the tests that were just completed by governor Gilmore's technicians,   announces new battles, assures that after his death the struggle will continue. Sometimes, however, the volume is lowered, from the telephone arrives the sound of a deep breath.

Derek, what happened with the DNA test?   How come the test that you have requested has ended up definitively condemning you?
"It has happened that they have falsified the results of the DNA test. Only in an attempt by the governor to murder me, because for him I am only an embarrassment.   For Gilmore I am a thorn on his side,  even the attorney Alan Dershowitz   told me so."

But at this point, what value is there in this test?
"No value at all.  Just think of this: in the first report, the one that was conducted at the beginning of the investigation, is written  that under Sarah's fingernails there were fibers, hair and blood. Now instead they say only one "tissue" is present, and they refuse to identify it.  They are intentionally vague, sustains my attorney.  They want to kill me, but yet do not want to specify the type of tissue it is.  And then they  exchanged the fingernails: in the first report the blood was on Sarah's left hand, in this it is on the right.   They have confused everything.  It is necessary to make public this report.   Barry Scheck, the utmost expert of DNA in America,  has reported to me that he has never seen a report so falsified.  "It is offensive,"  he said.   We will still go to court, to ask what they have done.  The truth will come out."

In short, the test Is only a farce? That too part of the mechanisms put forth to frame you?
"Mine is not an unique case. There are many men like me whose tests are tampers with. And now the governor doesn't  want to give anything: no tissues no examinations reports that resulted from the test.   He doesn't even want to give us the results on the investigation on the disappearance of the evidence.  Dershowitz keeps on repeating it: already years ago he told me that I was risking my life. "You are a problem for the governor, and wants to eliminate you."  But if we lose this battle, the war will go on just the same.  It is  a struggle for the justice, against  betrayal and bad faith.  Gilmore knows that my death will persecute him up to the end."

Is there still place for hope?
"The lawyer told today that I have 20 probabilities out of one-hundred to make it."

Is there more anger, fear or resignation in you?
"Really, no one of these three hypotheses.  What  grieves me mostly is the pain that my family feels, my friends.  I am at peace, I am not afraid to die.   Even if I don't want to die. I want to live. But if it is in God's design   that I die, it means that my destiny is this.  I think that life is in good part predestination.  Certainly, I would have preferred something else."

What do you think about when you are alone?
"At this moment?  Only the thought of those dear to me gives me serenity: my brother, my mother, my child.  The thought of my life before I entered here helps me,   and the idea that the citizens of Europe think of me."

Derek, who killed Sarah Wisnosky?
"Michael Bain, David Wirth and Stuart McMillan."

And why?
"They wanted to have sex with her and she didn't want them."

In the last days you have spoken of a truth that could be revealed later. What is this truth?
"We know that the tests have been manipulated. We know that they have disappeared and incredibly they have reappeared, but no results have come out."

But in one word, what is this revelation
"The revelation, is essentially, that I am innocent, and the other three are guilty."

Is there someone else who knows other things? Who can tell truth on that night?
"I don't know.  There is a lot more to this case  than what appears.   It is  the second time that the tests disappear.  The evidence has disappeared, when it reappeared the seals were broken.  I have told my lawyer: this is what had to happen."

Derek, this is the moment to speak out loud, to tell if there is anything that has been unsaid.  Until now prudence was comprehensible, also because these conversations are recorded.  Perhaps it is now the moment to say everything on that night.
"I can only say  that there is a plot, and that I am innocent. In the past years I have been obscure, I know it, I said it and I didn't say it.  But now I have said all there was to say. I am innocent,  I repeat it now and I will repeat it until death."

Do you feel strong enough?
"If I am strong?  I feel strong in my faith in God, and in my conscience of being innocent."

Has the solidarity you received made you feel a little less lonely?
"No, no, you have been lots of help to me.  You journalists, Italy.   When they offered me a negotiation for a lesser sentence I stayed firm in my decision, pronouncing my innocence.  You and the Italians, helped me to keep on going.  I don't know if I would have made it without your support."

Do you want to say something to Sarah's parents ?
"I would like to simply say that I understand their pain."

Do you want to say something to the Italians, that have followed you through radio and newspapers?
"Anything that happens, they have to know that I am extremely thankful for what they have done. I hope that my life is spared.  But if it not that way, their support has not been in vain.  In that case I would like to give my organs to Italy. Their   trust in me was not put back.  We have lost the battle, but in the end the truth will come out. We have to wait for this truth. Yes, it will come out."

(September 14th 2000)