A British man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in Italy for the murder of his partner, Michele Faiers. Michael Whitbread, a retired driving instructor, was convicted of stabbing the 66-year-old to death at their home in Casoli, Abruzzo, in October 2022.
Whitbread fled to the UK after the killing, claiming he was visiting relatives, but was arrested in Shepshed, Leicestershire, within days. An international arrest warrant was issued, and he was extradited to Italy in 2023.
The court in L'Aquila delivered the verdict on Wednesday. Faiers' body was discovered by a friend who had not heard from her for three days. Before moving to Italy, the couple ran the Divers Down scuba school in Torquay, Devon.
The Crown Prosecution Service's extradition unit head, John Sheehan, said: 'Our thoughts are primarily with the grieving family of Michele Faiers.' He urged against speculation to ensure a fair trial.
