Pensioner stabs ex-wife to death on Italian street

Maria Pia Vigoni, 66, was cycling to work in Civitanova Marche early this morning when she was attacked by 76-year-old Graziano Palestini, La Stampa reported. Palestini allegedly stabbed his ex-wife multiple times in the face and body with a kitchen knife.

People nearby heard Vigoni’s screams and called the emergency services, who arrived to find Palestini standing over his ex-wife’s body with knife in hand, the newspaper said.

She died a few minutes after arriving at hospital.

The couple had fought for years and taken their difficult separation through the courts, La Repubblica said. 

Last month Italy adopted a new anti-femicide law after dozens of women were murdered by their partners or a member of their family.

While the law aims to reduce the number of such attacks, some people have said that violence against women is a cultural rather than a legal problem.