Florence gathers in square for Lorena Isceri: over a thousand people at vigil in Via Panciatichi
About a thousand citizens gathered outside the home of the 45-year-old woman killed by her ex-partner. Tomorrow an autopsy to clarify the causes of death.
Florence stands with Lorena's family
Over a thousand people gathered in Via Panciatichi in Florence, outside the apartment building where Lorena Isceri lived, the 45-year-old originally from Squinzano (Lecce) who was killed by her ex-partner Federico Vella, 36 years old. ANSA Cronaca reports. Some brought flowers, some brought candles: the crowd participated in silence at the vigil "Together for Lorena Isceri", organised by mayor Sara Funaro following an appeal by the victim's father for politics to unite against violence against women.
Lorena's mother came out onto the street, protected by a cordon of law enforcement. She stood in front of the apartment building's entrance together with Funaro and the parents of Michela Noli, who was killed by her ex-husband in Florence in 2016. "You can feel the affection, I thank you all", the woman said before returning to the building. Flowers, candles, banners and memorial cards were left at the entrance of the building. A long round of applause greeted her appearance on the street.
The mayor's words
"The femicide of Lorena Isceri is a tragedy that has shaken the entire city", Funaro had written on Instagram. "We cannot and must not get used to these tragedies, nor accept that they be reduced to an act of fate." Also present at the demonstration were the mayors of Bergamo, Elena Carnevali, and Perugia, Vittoria Ferdinandi, as well as numerous local administrators from the province.
Funaro reiterated the risk of normalisation: "Given how many femicides there are in our country, we must make our voice heard and implement ever more prevention policies, so that these facts do not happen again." The mayor also underlined the importance of reporting "at the slightest sign. One must have the courage and strength to do so."
The autopsy and investigations
Last Thursday Lorena had been abducted by Vella right in Via Panciatichi. Tomorrow public prosecutor Antonio Natale, who coordinates the investigations of the mobile squad, will assign the task for the autopsies. The examination must establish whether the woman was already dead or still alive when Vella threw her from the viaduct, and whether the man had taken substances or was using psychotropic drugs.
For investigators the man would have premeditated the action. During the twenty-minute phone call to 112, made from the boot of the car in which Vella had locked her, Lorena is reported to have said: "Federico what are you doing, I love you, can we get back together", as reported by the press. The car then set off again towards the viaduct. From there Vella wrote to the woman's mother telling her she was dead, and confessed over the phone what he had done to his own mother, who then called 112.
"A tragedy that goes beyond any imagination, it is immense pain", said an aunt of Vella, as reported by Nazione and Corriere. The investigation into the femicide continues, although the inquiry will not proceed to a court of justice owing to the death of the suspect.
Source: ANSA Cronaca