Simon Spence KC concludes Double Murder trial

Simon Spence KC has secured the conviction of Calogero Ricotta, a husband who murdered his wife and her son after she took steps to divorce him.

Mr Ricotta repeatedly stabbed Maria Ricotta at their home in Ugley, Essex, on 28 May last year, minutes after she returned from visiting her daughter.

The builder also fatally stabbed his 29-year-old stepson Giuseppe Morreale, who was trying to defend his mother. Mr Morreale was stabbed in the stomach, receiving four knife wounds in total.

A pathologist’s report revealed Mrs Ricotta sustained a total of 14 stab wounds and 44 further cuts.

In his defence, Mr Ricotta claimed he had been trying to hide behind his wife as his stepson lunged at him with a knife, accidentally stabbing his mother in the process.

However, the jury returned their guilty verdicts after three hours of deliberations at Chelmsford Crown Court.

He was also found guilty of causing actual bodily harm in relation to a third victim.

The judge handed down two life sentence with a minimum term to serve 34 years in respect of each.

Simon Spence KC is instructed in murder and serious violence offences across East Anglia and London. His cases have included a number of very high profile and complex cases which have attracted national and international media attention. Read more: [Simon Spence KC Profile]

Simon led Rhiannon Sadler from 9BR Chambers and was instructed by Kayte Donnelly of East of England CPS.

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