Maria Ricotta,Giuseppe Morreale Obituary, Death; – A man convicted of murdering his wife and stepson has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Calogero Ricotta, aged 64, took the life of Maria Ricotta, 54, in their living room in Ugley, Essex, merely two minutes after her return from visiting a family member. In the course of the attack, Ricotta also fatally stabbed his 29-year-old stepson, Giuseppe Morreale, who attempted to defend his mother.
Following his trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, Ricotta was ordered to serve a minimum of 34 years in prison. Additionally, he was found guilty of causing actual bodily harm to a third individual. The presiding judge, Mrs. Justice Stacey, remarked that Ricotta “slaughtered” the victims as if they were animals.
“Mr. Morreale sacrificed his life in an effort to protect Maria and his siblings. His courage on that day starkly contrasts with the cowardly manner in which you took both of their lives,” she stated.
“You devised a plan to entice her into the living room under the guise of kindness. “You exploited her vulnerability, fully aware that she would be fatigued after a taxing evening.” Ricotta awaited his wife’s return from visiting one of their daughters on the evening of May 28.
The court heard that Mrs. Ricotta, whose maiden name was Nugara, had been initiating divorce proceedings against her husband. Ricotta entered the kitchen and told his terrified wife, “I want to talk to you,” before proceeding to the living room.
A young witness, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, reported hearing Mrs. Ricotta scream for help just ten seconds later. A pathologist’s examination revealed that Mrs. Ricotta suffered a total of 14 stab wounds along with 44 additional cuts.
Mr. Morreale attempted to intervene but was stabbed in the abdomen, sustaining four knife wounds in total. Prior to the murders, the trial also revealed that Ricotta had made several threats against his wife, including a chilling remark: “Dead or alive, you’re not leaving this marriage.”
Mr. Spence noted that in a WhatsApp message to a friend the day before the incident, Mrs. Ricotta expressed feeling “a bit scared,” adding, “He’s saying I have to stay with him or things are going to get messy.” Ricotta contended that he had been making efforts to change.
