Qualiano – It was the teenage daughter's composure that prevented yet another attack against a woman from turning into a femicide.
A 35-year-old mother of two children from a previous marriage was stabbed by her ex-partner outside her apartment building in Qualiano. Her daughter intervened, engaging in a hand-to-hand fight with the attacker, forcing him to flee.
The 29-year-old man, a resident of Calvizzano, had already been reported by the woman in March for mistreatment and violence. Following that complaint, he was placed under house arrest with an electronic bracelet. The young man decided to blatantly violate this measure last night.
According to the Carabinieri's reconstruction, the 29-year-old tampered with the electronic bracelet, left his home in Calvizzano, and reached Qualiano armed with a knife. Arriving near the apartment building where his ex-partner lives, he first slashed the tires of her car, which was parked on the street, then began yelling, swearing, and demanding that she get out.
When the 35-year-old returned from work and tried to walk away, the man violently grabbed her by the hair and began attacking her with the blade: slashing her head, chest, and abdomen. She sustained at least seven stab wounds. According to investigators, the intent was clear: to kill her.
The victim's screams attracted the attention of another woman, likely a relative, and especially the 35-year-old's daughter, who immediately intervened. The girl somehow managed to place herself between her mother and the attacker, engaging in a struggle with the 29-year-old, ultimately forcing him to flee.
An action defined as "decisive" by investigators, because it interrupted the action and prevented the shots from becoming fatal.
Despite her injuries and copious blood loss, the 35-year-old remained conscious. Emergency services were called, and while waiting for an ambulance, the woman was able to tell the police the name of her attacker and briefly describe what had happened.
She was rushed to Giugliano Hospital, where she was admitted in very serious condition. Doctors described it as a "miracle," explaining that some of the blows grazed vital organs. After hours of apprehension, her condition has been stabilized, and her life is currently not in danger.
At the same time, the search for the 29-year-old began. The Carabinieri had already been alerted by the electronic bracelet monitoring system, which had signaled the tampering and his departure from the Calvizzano home.
By cross-referencing the victim's information and testimony, the police searched the area until they located the man, during the night, right outside his home.
The 29-year-old was arrested and found in possession of a knife, which showed no obvious traces of blood. The weapon was seized and will undergo technical tests to determine whether it was the one used in the attack.
The man was taken to Poggioreale prison, where he was charged with attempted murder, as well as escape and violation of precautionary measures.
The investigation revealed a pattern of repeated violence. For some time, the man had become a nightmare for the 35-year-old: episodes of escalating aggression, stalking, and threats. In March, in one of the most serious incidents, the 29-year-old followed her to her car and smashed her windshield.
On that occasion, the woman found the courage to go to the police, reporting not only that incident but also the previous assaults. This resulted in the activation of a red code and the order for her to be placed under house arrest with an electronic bracelet.
Now the case has once again shone a spotlight on the effectiveness of protective measures for victims of domestic and gender-based violence. Despite the complaint, the red code, and electronic monitoring, the ex-partner managed to reach the woman and attempt to kill her. Only the daughter's quick thinking prevented him, transforming in moments from a terrified witness to a human shield to save her mother.
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Comments (1)
It's truly incredible how, despite the protective measures in place, they haven't been effective enough to protect the woman. These situations are deeply worrying and make us reflect on how to improve the safety and protection system for victims.