• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at
• austrianindependent.com

© europics.at

19. 03. 10. - 13:00

• more Around the World news...
• RSS Feed Around the World

19. 03. 10. - 13:00

Brit mum murder: Suspect vanishes, paper names priest as teen´s killer

Kathryn Quinn

An Italian man who was the prime suspect in the murder of Bournemouth mum Heather Barnett has suddenly disappeared.

Danilo Restivo, 38, was also the subject of an investigation into the disappearance of 16-year-old Elisa Claps in 1993. The teenager's body was found Wednesday during maintenance work on a church in southern Italy.

Restivo was jailed for two years for perjury in connection with the case, and later moved to Bournemouth, where he was living when Miss Barnett was bludgeoned and stabbed to death. He was arrested twice during the investigation, but released without charge both times.

Following the discovery of Elisa's corpse in the remote village of Potenza, Italian media descended on Bournemouth looking for Restivo, but said he was nowhere to be found. Reporters managed to speak with his wife, who said only: "Leave him alone and speak with his lawyer."

A neighbour, however, said: "We haven't seen Restivo for two weeks, although his car is still parked here.

"The Restivo family are very shy. I don't usually see them very much. I only know they let some rooms to students, and a few months ago they got a letter with a bullet inside and have been afraid."

Restivo's lawyer, Mario Marinelli, would not say where his client was, but revealed that he had spoken with him.

"He only wants to say that he has nothing to do with that case," he said.

Elisa's brother Gildo said yesterday: "Elisa's body has been found but that's not enough for my family. Now we can start a new fight to find her killer."

The family's lawyer said: "We want the British police to send Restivo back to Italy."

Meanwhile, the discovery of Elisa's body has thrown up more speculation

The discovery was made only on Wednesday despite renovation work taking place on the church twice since her disappearance, prompting claims that her body may have been moved since she was killed.

A local newspaper has also printed claims that Elisa was killed by a priest who worked in the Most Holy Trinity Church at the time she vanished, and died two years ago.

"It's impossible Father Mimì Sabia didn't know anything about what had happened in his church. The truth is that he got Elisa pregnant and killed her," La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno reported an unnamed local source as saying.

Another local priest, Father Marcello Cozzi, said: "There was an atmosphere of a conspiracy of silence in those years. I think someone wanted to help the killer evade capture."

Almost half of Romanians live in poverty
Almost half of the Romanians (8.89 millions) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to Eurostat data published today (Weds).

Police carry man off the snow and save his life
A man who had collapsed in freezing weather near a river, in Stoina, Gorj, southern Romania, was saved after policemen carried him for several kilometres.

New government with same eight former ministers proposed
The Romanian parliament will vote on the new government team, proposed by designated Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, tomorrow (Thurs).

Forty-one dead in freezing weather
Another three persons have died due to low temperatures in the last 24 hours, the Romanian Health Ministry said today (Weds).

EC report on Justice is positive, minister says
Romanian Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu currently acting prime minister until the new government is voted in by the parliament, said today (Weds) that the European Commission's interim report on progress in justice is, overall, "positive".

Pink Martini concerts in Bucharest
American orchestra Pink Martini will give a concert in Bucharest on 26 May at the Palace Hall, part of the promotional tour for their latest album "A Retrospective", local organisers Events said today (Weds).

Romania's industrial output up
Romania's industrial output increased by 15.6 per cent in 2011, the National Statistics Institute (INS) said today (Weds).

Father tried for abusing four-year-old girl
A Romanian father was sent to trial for abusing his stepdaughter, aged only 4, prosecutors said today (Weds).

Pitch in best condition for Steaua-Twente match, authorities say
The pitch for the Europa League match Steaua Bucuresti - Twente Enschede will be in optimal condition, the Bucharest town hall promises, after criticism of the National Arena turf.

More Romanian tourists travel to Austria
The number of Romanian tourists to Austria rose last year, after two years of a decline, Austria's National Tourism Office in Romania announced today (Weds).