Colchester murder: Man jailed for stabbing wife in 'jealous rage'

Dr Antonella Castelvedere was murdered by her husband in her home in Colchester

A husband has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years after murdering his wife in what a judge described as a "jealous rage".

University lecturer Dr Antonella Castelvedere, 52, was found stabbed to death in the couple's kitchen in Colchester in June 2022.

Ertan Ersoy, 51, threw court equipment on the floor when he was sentenced.

Judge Christopher Morgan said he killed her "in the context of a domestic relationship".

'Anger and jealousy'

During the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, jurors were told the pair, who married in 2014, had a "volatile, unstable and rocky" relationship.

Forensic psychiatrist Frank Farnham said the defendant's "obsessionality" that she could be having an affair suggested his "jealousy had become to a certain extent pathological".

He checked her emails and placed a listening device in the home, the court heard.

The University of Suffolk said Dr Castelvedere was a "much-loved and highly respeted" colleague

Ersoy stabbed Dr Castelvedere 15 times causing injuries to her face, neck, upper chest and to both hands.

Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC told the trial: "[We] say it was this defendant's anger, jealousy and his failings that led to him killing his wife."

Mr Paxton said Ersoy, also a lecturer and teaching fellow, called emergency services and shouted for help outside his front door.

The victim died of a fatal stab wound to the neck

Sarah Elliott KC, mitigating, said Ersoy "may have been stabbed immediately before the killing".

The judge said if this did happen, he was sure that Dr Castelvedere "had no intention to hurt you and she didn't stab you as the aggressor".

Dr Farnham had also suggested Ersoy's "abnormality of mental functioning" was "likely to have substantially impaired his ability to exercise self-control".

But Judge Morgan finished: "[I am] sure that [Ersoy] entered that kitchen and confronted her in a manner that you knew was likely to upset her, make her angry and provoke a response."

He added: "She was no threat to you when you ended her life in the most brutal fashion."

'Bringing peace'

In a statement issued after the verdict, Dr Castelvedere's family thanked Essex Police for its investigation and said: "Thanks for the respect shown towards Antonella, respect that Antonella did not have from her husband, and for all the people involved, and the delicacy with which they communicated to us."

The university said "she was a much-loved and highly respected colleague" and hoped the "verdict now brings some peace to her family, friends and colleagues".

Ertan Ersoy was told he would spend at least 25 years in prison

Ersoy, of Wickham Road in the city, threw his listening hoop device in the dock when the sentence was passed and sat back down on his chair - despite being told to stand by the judge.

He admitted the lesser charge of manslaughter, but prosecutors did not accept his plea, and the jury gave a unanimous verdict of guilty on the one count of murder.

Essex Police has a list of organisations on its website for people experiencing or wanting to report domestic abuse, as does BBC Action Line.