In a shocking incident, 27-year-old Italian footballer Giovanni Padovani has been arrested for allegedly killing his ex-partner Alessandra Matteuzzi, according to The Sun. In the cruel act, Padovani beat Alessandra to death with a hammer and a baseball bat adds the report. The two were together for a year before separating after which Alessandra accused the the former professional of stalking her.
The killing took place in Bologna since Alessandra resided there and has sent a shock wave across the city. Padovani has represented a number of clubs from lower as well as non-professional leagues in Italy. He shared an estranged relationship with Alessandra since both lived in different cities due to their respective professional commitments. While Padovani played for a club based in Sicily, Alessandra lived in Bologna.
Alessandra’s sister reveals horrific moments before Giovanni Padovani killed her
While the police have began with their investigation, Alessandra’s sister came forward with some terrifying revelations as she was on the phone with her before the incident took place. While talking to a local TV, she said:
“She [Alessandra] got out of her car and started screaming, ‘No Giovanni, no, I beg you, help’. I was on the phone. I immediately called the Carabinieri who arrived straight away. I live 30km away. In the end, he beat her to death.”
According to early reports, Giovanni Padovani killed Alessandra in the lobby of her apartment after she arrived there from work. As soon as she got out of her car, Padovani ‘ambushed’ her from nowhere with a hammer and baseball bat.
The Sun further reports that Padovani and Alessandra had an unsettled life together, where they would fight each other on daily basis. The fights sometimes became so violent that the footballer even smashed dishes and a light at Alessandra. Even the neighbours and friends of Alessandra recalled incidents when Padovani would threaten her, disconnect her meter from the outside and climb up balcony.
He is also accused of stalking and harassing her through phone calls and messages. One of Alessandra’s neighbours recalled: “She was very afraid of him because he had become persistent and she didn’t want to let him in the house.”
Bologna Chief Prosecutor Giuseppe Amato is overseeing the case and has dismissed the accusations of their short-coming after Alessandra’s repeated complaints, a reason of her death. He further mentioned that the stalking complaint from her never reflected “situations of a concrete risk of violence, it was just the typical conduct of bothersome stalking.”
The case is now being reviewed and thoroughly investigated as further updates on Padovani are yet to be disclosed.