Man appears in court charged with murdering wife and son in Essex village

Calogero Ricotta, 63, is accused of killing Maria Nugara, 54, and 29-year-old Giuseppe Morreale in the village of Ugley in Essex.

Chelmsford Crown Court a modern courthouse building with coat of arms & white police station building beyond Essex England UK
Author: Sam Russell, PAPublished 4th Jun 2024

A man has appeared in court charged with the murders of his wife and her son.

Calogero Ricotta, 63, is accused of killing Maria Nugara, 54, and 29-year-old Giuseppe Morreale in the village of Ugley in Essex.

He appeared before Chelmsford Crown Court by video link from HMP Peterborough on Tuesday.

Ricotta, who wore a long-sleeved, dark-coloured top and had short dark hair, remained seated as he listened to proceedings.

He spoke to confirm his name, and was not asked to enter pleas to the two counts of murder and one of actual bodily harm.

He is due to appear at the same court for a plea hearing on August 16, and to be brought to court in person and with an Italian interpreter requested.

Judge Christopher Morgan remanded Ricotta, of Cambridge Road, Ugley, in custody until then.

Essex Police said it received a call at 9.50pm on May 28 reporting that two people had been seriously injured at an address in Ugley, near Bishop's Stortford.

Officers attended the address in Cambridge Road and found Ms Nugara and Mr Morreale, who were both pronounced dead at the scene.

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