Two new femicide cases concerning Italy, one involving an Italian woman killed on the Spanish island of Formentera and another in Sicily.
Spanish authorities on Monday arrested 51-year-old Ivan Sauna, originally from Busto Arsizio and the owner of a travel agency, on suspicion of murdering his partner, Luisa Asteggiano, 45.
Asteggiano, from Bra in the province of Cuneo, was found dead on Sunday in her apartment in Es Pujol, a popular tourist resort on Formentera. Sauna, who was in a relationship with her, has been detained on murder charges. He is awaiting transfer before the magistrate of the preliminary investigations section of the Ibiza Court for his arrest to be confirmed.
In a separate case, police in Gela, Sicily, arrested a Romanian man in his 40s on Monday for the murder of Veronica Abaza, 64, also of Romanian origin. The crime took place on September 17, and the suspect, a farm labourer who lived with Abaza, was detained following an investigation into her death.
Authorities said more details will be released at a press conference on Tuesday.
These cases add to the growing number of femicide cases in Italy and involving Italian nationals abroad. Women’s rights groups and political leaders have repeatedly called for stronger measures to prevent gender-based violence and to protect victims of domestic abuse.
According to recent data from the Interior Ministry, dozens of women have been killed in Italy this year by partners or ex-partners. In July, The Senate approved a Femicide Bill making the crime punishable by life in prison.
