Italian footballer Giovanni Padovani, 28, receives a life sentence for fatally assaulting ex-girlfriend Alessandra Matteuzzi, 56, with a hammer, baseball bat, and bench after she reported him for stalking in Bologna.
Italian footballer Giovanni Padovani, aged 28, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the fatal assault on his former girlfriend, Alessandra Matteuzzi, aged 56.
Padovani ambushed Alessandra after she reported him for stalking (Picture: Instagram)
The assault occurred in August 2022 in Bologna, where Padovani attacked Alessandra with a hammer, baseball bat, and a bench outside her home after she reported him for stalking.
According to Metro UK, Alessandra’s sister Stefania, who was on the phone with her during the attack, heard her screams as Padovani assaulted her with various objects.
Padovani, a former Sancataldese centre-back turned model, ambushed Alessandra after his colleagues advised him not to attend a training session.
Stefania recounted the horrifying incident to a local TV station, describing Alessandra’s desperate pleas for help as Padovani attacked her.
Neighbours reported Alessandra’s fear of Padovani due to his persistent stalking behaviour, indicating that she refused to let him into her house.
During the court proceedings, Padovani attempted to justify his actions by claiming he was not in a stable mental state at the time of the attack.
He expressed remorse, stating, “I’m in a nightmare, I’m sorry, this is a bigger burden than prison.”
Stefania, overcome with emotion, tearfully lamented the loss of her sister Alessandra as she left the courtroom.
Bologna Chief Prosecutor Giuseppe Amato addressed accusations of judicial negligence, asserting that the investigation into Alessandra’s stalking complaint was paused due to witnesses being on holiday.
Despite criticism, Amato defended the handling of the case, stating that the initial investigation seemed to align with typical stalking behaviour.
