A man accused of murdering his partner at their Italian home has admitted to her killing. Michael Whitbread was arrested in Shepshed in November 2023 after Michele Faiers was found with multiple stab wounds a month earlier.

Retired driving instructor Whitbread told the Assize Court in Lanciano, in the Abruzzo region near the city of Pescara, last Friday (January 17) that he stabbed Ms Faiers at their house in Verratti, Casoli, in October 2023. Court heard that the couple had been living on separate floors of the property, which they had moved into in 2019, following relationship difficulties that began on New Year's Eve 2023.

In the days before her death, court heard how Ms Faiers had stayed with her friend Petrina Keay in Palombaro - a province 15km west of Verratti. The 66-year-old is said to have confided fears about Whitbread and alleged violent behaviour from her partner, including him kicking and punching her. These allegations had not been reported to the authorities, however.

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Whitbread said the stabbing of Ms Faiers occurred following months of tension between the couple. On the night of Saturday, October 29, 2023, and after drinking spirits, Whitbread said he took a knife from the kitchen and went to Ms Faiers' room, claiming he initially gave her the knife saying "kill me." He then described a physical altercation before stabbing her.

After the killing, which happened around 2am, Whitbread showered, changed clothes, took out rubbish and covered Ms Faiers' body with a blanket. He was captured on CCTV leaving the property at 5.30am.

Psychiatric expert, Dr. Raffaele De Leonardis, representing Whitbread's defence team, testified in court that Whitbread experienced "a mental collapse - a blackout that severely impaired his ability to understand his actions and form intent." Following the hearing, defence lawyer Massimiliano Sichetti characterised the case as "a dramatic story."

Nadia Germanà Tascona, lawyer for Ms Faiers' daughters Sarah, Brooke and Harriet, who were present in court along with Ms Faiers' brother Norman and sister Trina, spoke after the hearing to TGMax. "For us today it is important to have had this admission of responsibility," she said.

The court has ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Whitbread, to be conducted on Friday, February 7. The trial continues.

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