A “stalker” allegedly stabbed a young mum to death before reportedly posting a video of himself “boasting” about the crime.
Vanessa Ballan’s body was found with at least seven stab wounds to the chest in the basement of her home near Riese Pio X, Italy, on Tuesday (19 December).
An examination of her body showed she’d been beaten in the face, and injuries on her hands showed she had tried to defend herself.
Vanessa was two-to-three months pregnant with her second child.
Her four-year-old son was at nursery at the time of the crime.
She was still in her pyjamas when she was killed.
Her husband of 11 years, Nicola Scapinello, 28, raised the alarm after losing contact with her.
According to reports, he had gone home and found their French doors shattered, before discovering his wife’s body in the basement.
When interviewed by the police, he mentioned a painter named Bujar Fandaj, whom Vanessa, 27, had allegedly reported for stalking in October.
According to Nicola, the two had had a year-long affair, but Vanessa had ended it this summer and had later come clean to her partner.
After their split, Fandaj allegedly continued pestering her and making unannounced visits to her workplace.
He had also reportedly threatened to send Nicola, 28, compromising videos he’d taken of her if she didn’t take him back.
Fandaj, 41, was arrested at his home in Altivole later on Tuesday.
Shortly after Vanessa’s death, he had reportedly taken to TikTok to post a video of himself saying: “Never think of screwing me.”
The police say a hammer was used to break into her home.
Vanessa had recently gone on maternity leave from the supermarket where she worked as a cashier and where she is believed to have met the suspect.
Fandaj, who is a citizen of Kosovo, has been jailed on remand on charges of murder with aggravating factors.
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