Wife wanted divorce before her killing, court hears

A builder accused of killing his wife told her "dead or alive, you're not leaving this marriage" before stabbing her with a kitchen knife, a trial has heard.

Calogero Ricotta, 64, is accused of killing his wife Maria, 54, and her 29-year-old son Giuseppe Morreale in the family home in the village of Ugley in Essex on 28 May.

Mr Ricotta denies the murders and causing actual bodily harm (ABH) to a youth who was present in the house.

Simon Spence KC, prosecuting, told Chelmsford Crown Court: "Background to the murders was an increasingly unhappy marriage between the defendant and his wife, leading her to take steps to try and get a divorce and seek to get some financial independence from him."

Mr Spence said these were "things we say the defendant didn't want to happen and which he tried to prevent".

"Both Maria and Giuseppe, known as Joe, were stabbed several times with a kitchen knife and both of them had their throats cut in a manner we suggest were attacks that caused very similar injuries to both victims," he said.

A pathologist's report revealed Mrs Ricotta - whose maiden name was Nugara - sustained a total of 14 stab wounds and 44 further cuts.

The incident took place in the lounge of the family home, known as Woodlands, in the evening, said Mr Spence.

He continued: "An increasing tension and unhappiness are what led to the horrific events on 28 May."

Mr Spence said that in a Whatsapp message to a friend the day before the attacks, Mrs Ricotta said she was "a bit scared", adding: "He's saying I have to stay with him or things are going to get messy."

The defendant and his wife occupied separate bedrooms in the house at the time, the court heard.

Mr Spence told the trial that at Christmas, the defendant was heard to say of his wife: "If she doesn't listen to me, I will cut her throat like a sheep and put her in a hole."

A woman, who was also present in the house on 28 May, said Mrs Ricotta "had been to see the solicitor about being divorced".

The trial was told that on the day of the stabbings, Mrs Ricotta had gone to visit one of her daughters and arrived back home at 21:47 GMT.

Mr Spence said Mr Ricotta attacked his wife after she was captured on CCTV arriving back at the house.

A youth, who was present in the house, said the defendant had come into the kitchen and said to Mrs Ricotta: "I want to talk to you" - but she was frightened.

They said the couple went into the living room and 10 seconds later, he heard her screaming for help.

He described seeing Mrs Ricotta pinned against the sofa in the lounge with Mr Ricotta "just stabbing her".

Mr Morreale had run in and jumped on the defendant before he was stabbed in the stomach, the court heard.

The youth said he did not realise he had been stabbed in the hand until later. He said he kicked Mr Ricotta in the face and ran from the room.

He told police: "There was blood everywhere".

Another person who was present in the house called the police at 21.50, Mr Spence said, about two minutes and 45 seconds after Mrs Ricotta arrived home.

The trial continues.

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