GUILTY UK - Antonella Castelvedere, 52, killed at home, husband on trial for murder, Colchester, 1 June 2022

[AcbMurders]

This case has finally come to trial after a 10 months’ delay https://www.thelawpages.com/court-hearings-lists/Chelmsford-Crown-Court.php

The victim was an academic at the University of Suffolk. Husband Ertan Ersoy, also a lecturer, is on trial for her murder. He was found injured at their home where she had been fatally stabbed. Initially he claimed it was self defence and he pleaded not guilty at the September 2022 hearing.

Below are some articles about the case:

Academic, 50, 'acting in self-defence' when he stabbed wife to death

Dr Antonella Castelvedere, 52, was found seriously injured with knife wounds at their Victorian home in Wickham Road, Colchester, shortly after 11.45am last Wednesday, and died at the scene.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Economics lecturer, 50, denies murdering his wife in Colchester

A trial will take place next year

www.gazette-news.co.uk

Trial of husband accused of murdering his wife in Essex delayed by 10 months

Ertan Etsoy was initially due to begin his trial this week but it has now been delayed to the autumn

www.essexlive.news

 

[Legally Bland]

There's some live reporting here:

Jury hears 'jealous' husband 'killed uni lecturer wife in rage' - updates

Dr Castelvedere was killed at an address in the city in June last year

www.essexlive.news

Stabbing someone 15 times doesn't scream "self defence" to me.

11:47KEY EVENT

Wife 'stabbed in angry jealous rage'​

Mr Paxton has told the jury that Ertan Esoy stabbed his wife Dr Casteldevere at least 15 times when he attacked her on June 1, 2022, in an “angry and jealous rage”. He told the jury that less than 24 hours beforehand, she had told a friend she feared for her safety.
Mr Paxton said: “On May 31, 2022, Antonella Casteldevere said of this defendant, her husband, ‘unfortunately Ertan has fallen back into a dark state of mind and I fear for my safety’. She was right to fear for her safety, for just hours later the defendant said, perhaps letting his guard down, he at times wanted to kill his wife to get it over and done with.
“Within 24 hours Antonella lay dead on the kitchen floor of her family home she shared with her husband. The defendant used a kitchen knife to stab his wife many times, causing 15 areas of sharp force injury.” Mr Paxton said 14 of the wounds were across Dr Casteldevere’s face, neck and upper chest, including one which caused a cardiac arrest and her eventual death.

11:54ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Prosecution say defendant 'intented to kill wife'​

Mr Paxton continues that the prosecution say the fact that Ersoy stabbed his wife multiple times in parts of her body “that house vital organs” show Ersoy “was in control of his actions and he intended to kill her”. He continued: “What other intention, members of the jury, could the defendant have, other than to kill his wife? She was right to fear for her safety.”

12:05ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Defendant claimed wife stabbed him​

The jury has heard Ersoy rushed outside and called for help from neighbours after the incident, claiming his wife stabbed him. Mr Paxton said: “After stabbing her, he called the emergency services, went out into the street and called for help. He was quickly assisted by his neighbours and he told them that he feared he had killed his wife and she had stabbed him. The defendant was taken to hospital so that the two shallow wounds to his stomach, which he claimed she had caused, could be treated.”
Mr Paxton said Ersoy did not later explain to the police why he had stabbed his wife, or further comments on what happened in the house when he was questioned.

12:07ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

'He killed her in an angry and jealous rage'​

The court has heard Ersoy has admitted to killing his wife, but is denying murder on the grounds he was suffering from a “mental abnormality” at the time of the attack in relation to depression. However, Mr Paxton said the prosecution rejected the notion that the killing was manslaughter, and that Ersoy was fully in control of himself at the time.
He said: “The prosecution do not accept the conclusion of the expert evidence [from the defence]. It lies in the defendant’s anger, jealousy and control that he wished to exercise. In short and simple terms, we the prosecution say that it was this defendant, his anger, jealousy and his failings that led to the death of his wife. He killed her in an angry and jealous rage.”

12:08ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Court ordered to take a break​

A juror has just walked out of the courtroom while Mr Paxton was continuing his opening remarks.
Judge Christopher Morgan has ordered the court and jury to take a brief break.

12:19KEY EVENT

Defendant was 'convinced wife was cheating on him'​

While we wait for the jury to return - a few more things the prosecution has been saying about the background to the killing. The jury heard Dr Antonella Casteldevere and Ertan Ersoy married in 2014, and both worked as university lecturers, with Dr Casteldevere working at the University of Suffolk. However, it was a “difficult and rocky marriage”.
Mr Paxton said Ersoy had become convinced that his wife was cheating on him, and went as far as installing clandestine equipment in their home. He continued: “Ertan Ersoy secretly placed a listening device in their home. Police discovered the secret recording that convinced the defendant that his wife was cheating on him.
“In reality it proved no such thing. But it reveals, we say, just how jealous, possessive and controlling the defendant was.”

12:36ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Update on juror​

Judge Christopher Morgan has informed the court the juror was “feeling faint” after previously being unwell and is receiving first aid, the court break will continue until further information is received.

12:43ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Ersoy went on dating websites before wife's death​

Continuing his speech before the break, Mr Paxton said Ersoy had become “obsessed” with his wife’s previous relationships, but he himself was looking at other dating apps. He said: “In the months leading up to her killing, the defendant went on to access many online dating websites. We say Ertan Esoy had a view on what he wanted and what terms.”

12:44ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Victim said husband was 'following her to work'​

The jury was read messages sent by Dr Casteldevere where she detailed the rocky nature of the marriage, where she claimed she had to “ask for his compassion”, and that Ersoy had additionally been following her to university where she worked.
Dr Casteldevere said: “He’s been following me to university but can’t find me, so I have to justify my absence from the office.”

12:47ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Ersoy told therapist 'wife had stabbed him'​

The jury heard that just days before he killed his wife, Ertan Ersoy looked up the services of a private investigator, and he made internet searches for “how to clean the background noise” of a sound recording. Mr Paxton said this indicates, according to the prosecution, how “controlling, possessive and jealous” he was.
Mr Paxton also said that Ersoy had brought up an alleged incident of violence between him and his wife during a session with a therapist before her death. He claimed to the therapist that his wife “had a knife” and stabbed him. Mr Paxton said this was Ersoy “laying down a lie” to the therapist and that he was “controlling the narrative” about a potential killing.

12:48ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Court break for lunch​

The court is set to extend its break for lunch.
We will be back with more updates from 2pm.

 

[Legally Bland]

14:17ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Court back in session​

We’re now back in session following the court’s break for lunch, with all jury members returned. Mr Paxton is now saying how the prosecution believes Ertan Esoy “distorts the truth to suit his needs” and has advised the jury to scrutinise what he says.

14:37ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Back in court​

Mr Paxton is now discussing the lead-up in the few days before Dr Casteldevere was killed. He said on May 29, her web history showed that she searched for “ten top tips on how to divorce amicably”, and that on May 30, the defendant had asked a friend to help him fill out a divorce form.
Mr Paxton also said that Ersoy had confessed to a friend that he “also checks her messages and even recovered some of the deleted ones, what am I going to do now”.

14:41ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Ersoy 'lied about wife cheating on him'​

Ertan Ersoy told friends he was seeking a divorce, but lied to one about his wife cheating on him, the prosecution has said. Ersoy is alleged to have said “she has taken him to my house, to my bed”, referencing a man his wife was allegedly cheating on him with.
Mr Paxton said: “There’s no evidence to substantiate his claim. It’s a lie and distortion by this defendant to portray him as the victim.”

14:43ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

What Ersoy told neighbours​

Going over the events of the day Dr Casteldevere died, Mr Paxton said she had taken her daughter to summer school at around 9am before returning home. He said no neighbours witnessed or heard the stabbing itself, but heard a male voice shouting for help.
When two neighbours came to the home, Ersoy was standing bleeding from his stomach. He claimed to neighbours that his wife had “attacked him”, and then said “I think I killed my wife, I think I killed my wife” before they ran inside and found her on the kitchen floor.
Mr Paxton told the jury that there was no independent evidence that Dr Casteldevere had stabbed her husband, and that the history of their relationship suggests “she would do no such thing”.

15:07ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

Victim suffered main injury to the neck​

Amanda Reed, a forensic scientist who specialises in analysing blood patterns and staining, will be giving evidence later on in the trial. Mr Paxton has told the jury that Ms Reed came to the conclusion that Dr Casteldevere will have suffered the main injury to the neck, which caused her to bleed out, either when she was on the kitchen floor, or right before she fell to the ground.

15:07ELLIS WHITEHOUSE

'We say this is murder, not manslaughter'​

Mr Paxton is now bringing his opening speech to a close. He tells the jury there is “no dispute” that Ersoy killed his wife unlawfully, but it is the prosecution’s case that he suffered from no abnormality of brain function that took away his control of what he did.
He said: “He was very much in control as he sought to attack his wife. We say that anger, that rage is what explains the killing, rather than an abnormality of brain function. That’s why we say this is murder, not manslaughter.”

Jury hears 'jealous' husband 'killed uni lecturer wife in rage' - updates

Dr Castelvedere was killed at an address in the city in June last year

www.essexlive.news

 

[Legally Bland]

15:15KEY EVENT

Prosecution opening concludes​

The prosecution have concluded their opening statements and the court has been adjourned for the day.
Thank you for following us throughout the hearing.

Jury hears 'jealous' husband 'killed uni lecturer wife in rage' - updates

Dr Castelvedere was killed at an address in the city in June last year

www.essexlive.news

 

[AcbMurders]

Thank you @Legally Bland

Glad Essex Live are following the trial

 

[AcbMurders]

'I think I killed my wife': Court hears from witness who found lecturer's body

At Ertan Ersoy's trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, a witness described finding University of Suffolk lecturer Dr Antonella Castelvedere.

www.eadt.co.uk

The witness then continued by saying that after they helped treat Ersoy’s wound, they went into the kitchen to see if anyone else had been hurt, whilst a second neighbour who had also rushed to the address stayed with Ersoy.

“The door to the kitchen was partially open and I could see someone lying on the floor; I was pushing against the solid door trying to get in.

“I was trying to get in but I was met with some resistance – [Dr Casteldevere] was lying on the floor.

“She wasn’t moving – it was almost like there was a halo of blood behind her on the floor.”

The witness then told the court how she performed CPR on Dr Casteldevere, but couldn’t work out where the blood on the floor had come from.

 

[AcbMurders]

Man 'soaked in blood' told neighbour 'I think I've killed my wife', court hears

Ertan Ersoy is accused of killing his wife Dr Antonella Castelvedere, who was found stabbed to death on the kitchen floor at the couple's home in Colchester, Essex in June last year

www.mirror.co.uk

Tanja Munro told the court on Wednesday that she was at home when she heard a male voice shouting. (…)

She said she saw Ersoy, who also worked as a university lecturer, in his hallway holding his stomach and that his shirt was "soaked in blood". She continued: "He told me, 'I think I've killed my wife'. He was gesturing and looking towards the kitchen." Mrs Munro said the kitchen door was not fully open but that she could see "someone was lying on the floor". She said Ersoy was "breathing like he was in pain" and was "groaning", adding: "He was concerned about his wife. He said 'my wife, my wife' and did say that a few times."

 

[Legally Bland]

[Ertan Ersoy] wept in the dock this morning (Monday) as forensic pathologist Dr Matthew Seeker told a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court the extent of Antonella’s injuries.

[...]

He said the lack of blood stains on Antonella’s clothes suggested the wounds had been inflicted while she was on the floor.

During the incident, Ersoy, of Wickham Road, Colchester, sustained two cuts to his stomach from the seven inch kitchen knife.


Dr Seeker said he could not determine how they came about, but said they were “hesitance” injuries “that are commonly seen in cases of self-infliction”.

He added no defensive injuries were found on Ersoy’s body.

Man accused of murdering wife found lying in litres of her own blood cries in court

Antonella Castelvedere, 52, was found lying in two-and-a-half litres of her own blood when police arrived at her Wickham Road home in Colchester

www.gazette-news.co.uk

 

[AcbMurders]

Lecturer was stabbed 15 times during kitchen floor attack, court hears

An ongoing murder trial at Chelmsford Crown Court heard about the injuries University of Suffolk lecturer Dr Antonella Castelvedere had sustained.

www.eadt.co.uk

A post-mortem examination of her body found 15 injuries which had been inflicted by a blade, distributed across her face, neck, upper chest and both hands.

Dr Seeker said a 15cm wide wound across Antonella’s neck which “cut through” her carotid artery proved fatal.

 

[AcbMurders]

Colchester murder accused suspected wife was cheating

A man tells court tells jurors how a man accused of murdering his wife thought she was cheating

www.bbc.co.uk

Ertan Ersoy, 51, revealed having "difficulties with his wife" to Mahmut Bektas. (…)
Speaking through a Turkish interpreter, Mr Bektas told the court: "He said that he's finding it difficult and their relationship is very tense." He said Mr Ersoy told him Dr Castelvedere was "constantly thinking about her previous relationships" and had kept old letters, which made him "cross and angry". Mr Bektas said Mr Ersoy told him he "checked her emails" and "there was an individual from a previous relationship talking about he cannot forget about her".
He said the defendant told him his wife had hit him and when asked how, replied: "I think he mentioned about throwing some items at him."

Man accused of murdering Suffolk lecturer thought she was cheating, court hears

Ertan Ersoy, who is accused of murdering his University of Suffolk lecturer wife Antonella Castelvedere, said he thought she was cheating.

www.eadt.co.uk

Also giving evidence was Ignazia Posadinu, a senior lecturer at Essex University (…)
She said Dr Castelvedere told her Ersoy “was drinking and smoking” and “was getting frustrated with work and sometimes he would be verbally violent and also smash things around”.“He expected her to kneel down to ask for his forgiveness for having been an immoral woman and all sorts of things that didn’t make much sense,” said Ms Posadinu, adding: “Otherwise he would divorce her – he also told me the same things, I thought she was joking.”

 

[AcbMurders]

Colchester murder accused may have been 'pathologically' jealous

A forensic psychiatrist gives evidence during a trial about the death of a university lecturer.

www.bbc.co.uk

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Frank Farnham told trial jurors that he had spent three hours assessing Mr Ersoy.
Dr Farnham, giving evidence for Mr Ersoy's defence at Chelmsford Crown Court, said: "[The abnormality of mental functioning] is likely to have substantially impaired his ability to exercise self-control, to snap if you like, and I think if he didn't have those disorders he probably would not have killed [Dr Castelvedere]."

Court hears man accused of murder said 'I want to kill my wife' day before she died

Sitting at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, the jury heard how Ertan Ersoy told a friend he wanted to kill his wife one day before she died.

www.gazette-news.co.uk

The court also heard how Dr Farnham and Dr Raman Deo, the consultant forensic psychologist for the prosecution, disagreed in their conclusion on Ersoy’s mental state.
(…)
But prosecuting barrister, Christopher Paxman KC, drew particular attention to Ersoy’s telling a friend that he wanted to kill his wife the day before Dr Castelvedere was killed.

 

[AcbMurders]

Husband's 'frenzied' killing of wife 'shows he wasn't in control', jury hears

The defence in Ertan Ersoy's trial made their closing remarks to the jury that he had "everything to lose" by allegedly murdering his wife

www.essexlive.news

In the defence's closing speech to the jury, Ms Elliott claimed Ersoy had no history of violence and it would not have made sense for him to willingly murder his wife and the nature and brutality of the stabbing shows he was not in control at the time. She also claimed alleged violent behaviour by Dr Casteldevere may have provoked him in his depressed state.
(…)
Ms Elliott claimed Ersoy had wanted an amicable divorce from his wife and that all factors around the killing point to him not willingly murdering Dr Casteldevere, and that the jury should find him not guilty of murder.

 

[AcbMurders]

GUILTY!

https://www.essex.police.uk/news/es...n-guilty-of-murdering-antonella-castelvedere/

Colchester: Man guilty of murdering Antonella Castelvedere​

Court and Convicted
Published:16:2526/10/2023



Ertan Ersoy has been convicted of murder
A man who killed his wife and initially claimed he had acted in self-defence has been convicted of her murder thanks to the overwhelming evidence collated by specialist officers and staff.
Ertan Ersoy was today (Thursday 26 October) convicted of murdering Antonella Castelvedere on 1 June 2022 after a trial at Ipswich Crown Court.
We received a number of calls at about 11.15am reporting a serious incident having taken place in Wickham Road, Colchester.
Witnesses reported a man saying he had been attacked in his home and that he believed he had killed his wife.
Officers arrived at the scene within minutes and found Ersoy, who had been injured. During a further search of the home, officers then found Antonella, who had been seriously injured. Despite the best efforts of officers and medics at the scene, she sadly died.
Ersoy was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries and was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Antonella Castelvedere was killed at her home in Wickham Road, Colchester
Specialist investigators and staff began piecing together the months leading up to the incident and found that Ersoy had begun to believe, wrongly, that Antonella, 52, had been unfaithful.
Although Ersoy raised a defence of diminished responsibility, the jury held that the offence of murder was evidenced and not manslaughter. Ersoy maintained that his injuries were inflicted by Antonella, but there wasn’t any independent evidence to suggest those shallow puncture injuries had been caused by her.
In the months leading up to the incident, Ersoy had attempted to control his wife’s life and had used listening devices to record her conversations. The court heard the incident on 1 June was the “ultimate act of control”.
During interview, Ersoy remained silent despite being asked why he had not asked about his wife’s condition.
As a result of the speedy investigative work, Ersoy, 51, of Wickham Road, was subsequently charged with murder.
On the first day of trial, on 2 October, Ersoy entered a guilty plea to manslaughter. However, in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, we opted to pursue a murder conviction.
Today, (Thursday 26 October), the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court found Ersoy guilty of murder. He will be sentenced at the same court tomorrow (Friday 27 October).
In a statement, Antonella’s family said:
“The family 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 developments of this tragic story.
“Respect is important for those who remain".
Detective Chief Inspector Ant Alcock, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, led our investigation from the outset.
He said:
“This is a tragic case in which a family has lost a mother, daughter and a sister. First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Antonella’s family and friends. I know her loss will continue to be felt by those close to her.
“Ertan Ersoy is a clever, manipulative and calculated man, but his defence was based on a lie which was found out. He claimed he had an abnormality of mental functioning that substantially affected his judgement and self-control, this abnormality was described by experts as mild to moderate depression which the jury did not agree was sufficient to reduce his conviction to manslaughter.
"He was a man who sought to control his wife’s life and that ultimately culminated in a cruel and brutal attack in June last year.
“As an investigation team, we are very aware that no verdict will ever bring Antonella back but we hope that the jury’s decision will be of some comfort to them."

Determined to make Essex safer for women​

At Essex Police, domestic abuse is a force wide priority. We are determined to make our county a safer place for women and girls.
Our #Reflect campaign focuses on helping perpetrators to change their behaviour and casts a spotlight on different types of abuse – from physical abuse, to controlling behaviour, stalking and harassment, and uncontrolled emotions such as humiliation, jealously or anger.
The Southend, Essex and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB) unites Essex to tackle domestic abuse.
Working in partnership with The Change Project, we are encouraging people to break the cycle of domestic abuse by changing their behaviour.
If your actions make your relationships a toxic place to be, it’s time to reflect on your behaviour and get the help you need.

Man convicted of murdering wife in 'jealous and angry rage' in Essex

The jury returned their verdicts after less than five hours of deliberations

www.essexlive.news

The jury reached a verdict this afternoon (October 26) and found Ersoy guilty of murder unanimously after less than five hours of deliberations.

 

[AcbMurders]

25 yrs minimum Thinking o Antonella’s daughter and family :-(

Husband jailed for life for murder of university lecturer wife in knife attack

Ertan Ersoy has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 25 years.

www.heraldscotland.com

… clearly no remorse

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-10-27/murderer-storms-out-as-judge-sentences-him-for-killing-wife

Ertan Ersoy, 51, stood up in the secure dock when he was asked to by the judge, but threw his hearing loop on the floor and sat back down when his sentence was delivered.

He gesticulated with his right hand as he was led to the cells at Chelmsford Crown Court, after being told he would serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars.