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.
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