10 October 2023 , 14:26
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A man accused of murdering his wife told a confidante he suspected she was cheating on him, a court was told.
Ertan Ersoy is accused of killing university lecturer Dr Antonella Castelvedere, who was found stabbed to death on the kitchen floor of the couple's home in Colchester, Essex, on June 1 last year. Chelmsford Crown Court heard how the 51-year-old husband had previously told fellow Turk Mahmut Bektas about the “difficulties” he was having with his wife at home. The pair met when Mr Bektas arrived in the UK from Turkey in 2021 and was given Ersoy’s contact information by an agency in London.
Ertan Ersoy denies murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter (East Anglia News Service)Assisted in court by a Turkish interpreter, Mr Bektas said: “He mentioned his difficulties with his wife. He said he’s finding it difficult and their relationship is very tense. He did mention he’s suspecting his wife might be cheating on him. I was telling him ‘Look, I’m a therapist. Do you want to speak with me in my professional capacity as a therapist?’ – because my understanding is he was seeking my help – ‘Or do you just want my help as a friend?’”
He said Ersoy told him Dr Castelvedere was “constantly thinking about her previous relationships”. Mr Bektas added: “He was being cross and angry to this.“’Why she’s married with me, she’s still keeping these old letters or anything to do with the previous relationships?’”
Mr Bektas said Ersoy told him he “checked her emails” and “there was an individual from a previous relationship talking about he cannot forget about her”. Mr Bektas said the defendant also “said a couple of times Antonella hit him”.
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Asked by Mr Paxton if Ersoy had said how she hit him, Mr Bektas replied: “I’m not quite sure, but I think he mentioned about throwing some items at him.” He said he met Dr Castelvedere in March 2022 and she said she was “not happy”. “As a question I asked her ‘Do you love him or not?’ and she said ‘Yes, I do, but I’m unhappy’,” said Mr Bektas.
He said Ersoy later asked about their meeting, and Mr Bektas told him they “both need to see a therapist and you can have couple’s therapy as well or you can select for one-to-one therapy”. Dr Castelvedere wrote to Mr Bektas on May 31, in a message read to the court by the prosecutor. She said: “Ertan has fallen back into a dark state of mind and I fear for my safety.”
In his reply, Mr Bektas said he had offered to put Ersoy in touch with a psychotherapist and he “hoped this time he will start to take professional help”.
Dr Castelvedere was found stabbed to death on the kitchen floor of the couple’s home in Colchester on June 1 last year. She was a lecturer at the University of Suffolk, teaching an MA course in English and creative writing, and Ersoy also worked as a lecturer. Ersoy denies murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
The trial continues.