My stalker fear by Mrs Firth
COLIN Firth’s wife was left “living in fear” after her former lover began stalking her, an Italian court has heard.
Livia, 48, had a secret affair with Marco Brancaccia during a temporary separation from the Bridget Jones actor.
But when the lovers split, the Italian – a school friend – sent her frightening messages.
This week journalist Brancaccia, 55, was charged with stalking the Oscarwinner’s wife and told that a successful conviction raised the prospect of a prison term. He denies the charge.
A pre-trial hearing in Rome this week was postponed until July due to a lawyers’ strike.
It means the actor and his Italian wife, who have a house in Umbria, face weeks of uncertainty before a judge decides if the case goes to trial.
Outside the courthouse prosecutor Maria Monteleone said: “We think we have enough evidence, otherwise we would not have asked for a trial.”
Brancaccia faces up to five years in jail.
Details of the alleged stalking campaign emerged in March, when Livia admitted the year-long affair that ended in 2016.
After the revelation, she and Firth, 57, made a statement admitting they had temporarily split up a few years ago.
After she got back together with Firth, Livia told police about the news agency journalist, who she claimed had Brancaccia sent ‘frightening’ letters threatened her through phone calls and texts.
Italian prosecutors said the mother of two was “living in fear” for several months after her lover became her stalker.
Ms Monteleone said: “There was evidence of stalking against the victim in the form of messages and emails.
Suffer
“She was very frightened and they were serious persecutory acts against her. She had to change her lifestyle because of the messages. “We recovered material from the defendant’s home.” The King’s Speech star and Brancaccia are thought to have exchanged emails, with Firth reportedly telling Brancaccia: “You made me suffer but I know you are suffering too.”
A joint statement issued by the couple’s agent in March, said: “The Firths have never had any desire to make this matter public.
“A few years ago Colin and Livia privately made the decision to separate. During that time Livia briefly became involved with former friend Mr Brancaccia. The Firths have since reunited.”
The statement added: “Subsequently, Mr Brancaccia carried out a frightening campaign of harassment over several months, much of which is documented.”
Lawyers for the journalist said: “Mr Brancaccia has absolutely nothing to do with the events described and has already filed a legal complaint to protect his honour.”