Prior to his entering the Dominican Order, Carino, was, according to Catholic tradition, a cruel man without scruples who had been hired by Milanese Cathars to kill Peter, a prominent Catholic inquisitor. Carino was a native of Cinisello Balsamo. The murder took place on April 6, 1252, when Peter was returning from Como to Milan. Carino's accomplice was named Manfredo Clitoro, of Giussano.^[1] The two assassins followed Peter as far as Barlassina, murdering him and mortally wounding Peter's companion Domenico at a lonely spot.^[1]

Carino split Peter’s head open, and mortally wounded Domenico. When he found that Peter was still breathing, he stabbed him with a dagger.^[1]

Carino fled to a Dominican monastery at Forlì, and confessed his crime to Giacomo Salomoni of Venice, also venerated as a beatus.^[2] Carino performed penances and became a lay brother there.^[2] Manfredo subsequently fled from the authorities and may have found refuge amongst the Waldenses in the Alps.^[1]

After his death, Carino was venerated by the people of Forlì.^[2]

The regulation of Carino's cult by the papacy began in 1822, but the death of Pius VII delayed the process, and the paperwork was misplaced.^[2] Carino is buried at the Cathedral of Forlì, and in 1934, Cinisello Balsamo obtained Carino's head, a translation at which Blessed Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster participated.^[2] Carino's feast day is celebrated on April 28, the day of this translation.^[2]

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  The murder of Peter Martyr, by Giorgio Vasari
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  The murder of Peter Martyr, by Gentile da Fabriano
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  The murder of Peter Martyr, by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio

• Sanctuary of San Martino
• Church of San Martino (Cinisello Balsamo)

• Donald Prudlo, "The Assassin-Saint: The Life and Cult of Carino of Balsamo", The Catholic Historical Review, Volume 94, Number 1, January 2008, pp. 1–21.

• (in Italian) Beato Carino Pietro da Balsamo