Academic ‘yelled “I’ve killed my wife” as he ran from home covered in blood after stabbing her to death’
AN ACADEMIC yelled “I’ve killed my wife” as he ran from their home covered in blood after stabbing her to death, a court heard. Dr Ertan Ersoy, 50, was charged with the murder of his wife Dr Antonella Castelvedere, 52, on Tuesday night. “Fiercely intelligent” Antonella – a lecturer of English and Critical Writing – […]
AN ACADEMIC yelled “I’ve killed my wife” as he ran from their home covered in blood after stabbing her to death, a court heard.
Dr Ertan Ersoy, 50, was charged with the murder of his wife Dr Antonella Castelvedere, 52, on Tuesday night.
“Fiercely intelligent” Antonella – a lecturer of English and Critical Writing – was found dead at their home in Colchester, Essex.
Neighbours rushed to help when they heard Ersoy – who worked at University of Suffolk alongside his wife – “shouting for help”, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.
They claim to have heard Ersoy shout “I have killed my wife” before pointing to injured Antonella after the alleged attack last Wednesday.
Ersoy claims he was acting in “self defence”.
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Prosecutor Lesla Small said: “Police were called on June 1 this year at about 11.15am. A neighbour had heard shouting for help.
“She could tell it was serious due to the volume of the shouting, and she has gone to the front of her property.
“She approached Mr Ersoy and asked if everything was OK. He told her that it wasn’t and that they were calling for an ambulance.
“He says that someone has been hurt and he thinks he has killed his wife.
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“The witness points towards the address of the defendant, and when she approaches she is asking if the victim is OK, and whether she can enter the property.
“A number of other neighbours came out because they could hear Mr Ersoy shouting for help.
Another neighbour saw him looking out and clutching his stomach area – while others shouted for an ambulance to be called, the court heard.
“They were asking if he was OK, and whether they could go into the property,” the prosecutor added.
“When a neighbour went into the property, they could see evidence of blood in the hallway.
“The neighbour discloses that she could hear Mr Ersoy making noises as if he was groaning in pain.
“When they approached they could see blood on his stomach.
“He said, ‘I have killed my wife’, and pointed towards the victim.
“The neighbour saw the person lying on the floor and not moving.
“There was a trail of blood going through the property, and she saw Mr Ersoy lying down.”
Ms Small said police and ambulance paramedics attended and tried to revive Antonella – but she tragically died at the scene.
Ersoy – who lectured in economics as a Visiting Fellow – was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to hospital for treatment for an injury.
Ms Small said he made no comment during a police interview after officers were told he would be “exercising his right to silence”.
Ersoy – who was wearing a grey sweatshirt – was not asked to enter a plea during the hearing and was remanded in custody.
He will appear tomorrow morning at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Dr Castelvedere, from Italy, shared her home with her young daughter and husband.
The University of Suffolk said in a statement: “The University of Suffolk community is deeply saddened by the untimely death of Dr Antonella Castelvedere.
“Antonella was a widely respected and well-liked member of staff at the university where she was an outstanding academic in English and Critical Writing.
“Our thoughts are with her family at this very difficult time.”
Her former students shared tributes to their beloved teacher.
Abygail Fossett, 25, said: “”I remember being in awe of Antonella when I first met her – she was just the most fiercely intelligent person I had ever met.
“She could speak so many languages. I remember a class she gave about poetry written in other languages.
“We read about six poems in many different languages – and Antonella could speak them all.
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“I will remember Antonella as one of the friendliest, most positive people I’ve ever known. As students, we would smile to hear her laughing as she walked down the corridor.
“She could always find something to be happy about. She will never be forgotten.”
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
