Lecturer is found stabbed to death in her own home
A UNIVERSITY academic has been stabbed to death in her home, police revealed yesterday.
Antonella Castelvedere, an Italianborn mother of one, was found seriously injured at the end of terrace property and died at the scene.
Officers were called to the house of the 52-year-old after they were alerted to ‘concerns for the welfare of a woman’. An injured man was also discovered at the Colchester address and arrested on suspicion of murder before being taken to hospital.
Police have not released the identity of the suspect, who remains in custody.
Dr Castelvedere was confirmed as the victim in a statement from the University of Suffolk in Ipswich, where she lectured in English and critical writing. Her husband,
Dr Ertan Ersoy, 48, who is understood to be of Turkish-Syrian origin, is a visiting fellow at the university’s business school.
Dr Castelvedere had lived in the UK for 25 years and the couple had a young daughter. She was from Bagnolo Mella in Lombardy.
Her father Spartaco, who is a former director of an agricultural consortium, her mother Mina and brother Ferruccio have not commented on her death.
But ex-student Lauren Barton said online: ‘Antonella had a smile and laugh that was truly infectious. She supported and mentored me through my dissertation and was the most inspiring teacher.’
Neighbours in the quiet street in which Dr Castelvedere lived continued with their jubilee party over the weekend after taking advice from police.
An unnamed pub worker said: ‘ Some neighbours tried to resuscitate her but they didn’t manage it. It’s shocked the local community. I just feel sorry for the little girl.’
Locals, who left floral tributes outside the £260,000 house where police stood guard yesterday, described Dr Castelvedere as quiet and well liked.
The University of Suffolk said that its staff were ‘deeply saddened by the untimely death’ last Wednesday.
Detective Chief Inspector Antony Alcock, of the Kent and Essex serious crime directorate, said detectives were trying to ‘ piece together the circumstances’.