Footballer jailed for life after stalking and murdering ex-girlfriend

13 February 2024 , 15:39

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Murderer Giovanni Padovani (Image: Instagram)

An Italian footballer who beat his ex-girlfriend to death with a hammer after she reported him to the police for stalking her has been jailed for life.

Giovanni Padovani murdered Alessandra Matteuzzi outside her home on August 23, 2022, in a case that shocked the country. The 56-year-old woman had been on the phone to her sister Stefania who heard her scream as Padovani began attacking her, first with his fist, then a baseball and a hammer.

The 28-year-old former centre-back who played for Sancataldese attacked her in a garden near her apartment in Via Dell'Arcoveggio, in Bologna, northern Italy. The court heard he had flown to the city to lie in wait outside her home, after his team told him to stay away from a training session.

While Alessandra survived the initial attack, she later died in hospital after suffering massive injuries. Reports say Padovani and the former model dated for about a year, but had spent most of their time apart as Alessandra lived in Bologna, while Padovani worked in Sicily.

Alessandra Matteuzzi was murdered (alevenny/Instagram)

She was on her phone to her sister when she was attacked (alevenny/Instagram)

Stefania reported that they had a fight in January 2022 in which he smashed dishes and a light at her Bologna home and after they broke up, Padovani bombarded her with messages and calls, and she ended up reporting him to the police for stalking.

Double killer who slit girlfriend's throat within weeks of release jailed

Judge Domenico Pasquariello sentenced Padovani and said that his stalking and predatory behaviour, as well as the premeditated nature of the attack, were aggravating factors.

Padovani was jailed for life (Instagram)

Padovani reportedly tried to claim he was not in a fit state of mind at the time of the attack. He told the court: "If I was completely lucid and capable I deserve life in prison. But if you consider that there is something abnormal, anomalous, in the conduct, then no. I wasn't well, because a person who is well doesn't kill another human being. I'm in a nightmare, I'm sorry, this is a bigger burden than prison."

Following the sentence, Alessandra's sister burst into tears as she left the courtroom. She later told reporters: "Alessandra is no longer here, my sister is no longer here."

Kelly-Ann Mills