Man breaks down door and tries to strangle wife in front of children in Reggio Emilia

The attack at the family home

The violence took place on the afternoon of 25 October at the family home in Quattro Castella, in Reggio Emilia province. A quarrel over how the household was run turned violent after the 51-year-old man insulted his wife and called her useless. According to the reconstruction reported by the media, he also threatened to slit her throat and to kill her.

When the woman locked herself in the kitchen with her mother, he forced the door off its hinges, grabbed her by the back of the neck, threw her onto a sofa and put both hands around her neck. Her mother managed to get between them, while the two young children, both minors, watched. Afterwards the man left the house for a short time, taking the children with him.

Medical care and protection

The woman called the emergency number 112, and carabinieri reached the house and took her to the hospital in Reggio Emilia. Doctors diagnosed a contusive polytrauma with injuries to the shoulder blade area and left arm, with a prognosis of 5 days. She, the two young children and her elderly mother were moved to a protected facility at an undisclosed address. Fanpage reports that the procedures set out under the Codice Rosso were activated.

Court orders and charges

The woman filed a formal complaint the following day, 26 October, at the Quattro Castella barracks. Investigators based their findings on testimony from family members present, medical findings and photographs taken at the scene. The investigating judge in Reggio Emilia ordered his immediate removal from the family home and a ban on approaching the woman, with a minimum distance of 1,000 metres from the home and from places she usually frequents. He may not access those places without specific authorisation from the magistrate, and compliance is monitored through an electronic bracelet. Fanpage reports that prosecutors requested the measure. He is charged with aggravated personal injury, committed in the presence of minors and against his spouse, and with serious threats.

What investigators found

Investigators describe the conduct as persecutory and injurious, with constant psychological and emotional domination of the woman. Fanpage reports that she had long been the target of death threats from her husband. The carabinieri's first checks had already confirmed the continuing violence inside the home, according to the same report.