Man sentenced to life with a minimum of 33 years after killing mother and her son in Essex
The murderer's wife wanted to divorce him following "an increasingly unhappy marriage"
Last updated 18th Feb 2025
A man's been jailed for life with a minimum term of 33 years after he killed his wife and her son in Ugley, Essex.
Calogero Ricotta, 64, killed his 54-year-old wife Maria, and her 29-year-old son Giuseppe Morreale on May 28 last year.
The trial previously heard how the couples' marriage was "an increasingly unhappy marriage."
Mrs Ricotta wanted to "take steps to obtain a divorce from him and achieve some financial independence," said Mr Spence, opening the prosecution case.
The barrister said these were "things we say the defendant didn't want to happen and which he tried to prevent".
Ricotta, originally from Sicily in Italy, attacked his wife after she was captured on CCTV arriving back at the house at 9.47pm.
Giuseppe Morreale was stabbed when he came to help.
This is the moment Mr Ricotta was arrested:
The judge said today Mrs Ricotta was " the most generous, kind giving person with determination to make the most of life.
Rarely thinking of herself, she weathered the storms and kept on smiling."
The court heard how Giuseppe was “deeply loved."
"He was vulnerable and his struggles were partly down to your behaviour, Mr Ricotta your “savage beatings,” you singled him out, withheld love and affection from him.
Mrs Justice Mary Stacey added "you told her family Mrs Ricotta's she was mentally unwell and tried to turn her parents against her."
She added "You said you would kill Maria if she divorced you, we now know this was true.
You stabbed maria at such a force the orange knife broke from it’s handle."
Mrs Justice Mary Stacey spoke of Mr Ricotta's character, saying "You have shown no remorse, only self-pity, and tried to trash the reputation of Giuseppe in your defence.
The degree of savagery to both Mrs Ricotta and Mr Morreale is shocking.