Ugley: Life sentence for killing mother and son

A 64-year-old man has been given a life sentence for murdering his wife and his step son in a violent attack in their family home.

Maria Nugara, 54, and her 29-year-old son Giuseppe Morreale – known as Joe – lived in Cambridge Road, Ugley and died on Tuesday 28 May after Calogero Ricotta stabbed them both to death.

Officers were at the scene within minutes where he was quickly arrested and later charged with two counts of murder and one count of causing actual bodily harm to a third victim who was present in the address at the time.

Ricotta’s trial began at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday 3 February. The jury of seven women and five men listened to three weeks of evidence before finding him guilty of all three charges.

He was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 34 years in prison.

Body worn video footage show the moment Ricotta was arrested. 

Detective Inspector Lydia George, senior investigating officer in our Serious Crime Directorate, described Ricotta as cold, callous and lacking in any remorse:

“At the centre of this case are Maria and Joe, a mother and son who have had their futures taken away by Ricotta.
“I would like to commend the courage, bravery and resilience of their family and friends in the face of these unthinkable circumstances.
“Their lives will never be the same due to his reprehensible actions.
“He was calculating, controlling and violent and said to Maria ‘dead or alive, you will never leave this marriage’.
“Joe intervened to try and protect his mother to the end, however, received horrific injuries that ultimately took his life.
“Ricotta then refused to admit to his crimes, subjecting all their loved ones to months of stress and turmoil.
“His claims of self-defence were completely dismantled by the evidence our officers compiled for this case.
“He now faces spending the rest of his life in prison.”

In a statement, Maria and Joe's family said:

“We make this statement together, united, but nothing we can say will capture the loss every one of us feels without Maria and Joe.
“The grief we feel is unimaginable and reaches well beyond our immediate family. They were both cherished and loved by friends, colleagues and those in the community who are still coming to terms with their senseless killings.
“We have found a strength and bravery within each other to get through the painful months leading to this trial – this has come from Maria and Joe themselves, and we will always carry that with us.
“They were murdered in the most horrific way, a way that only a coward would inflict upon those he supposedly loved. Our hearts are broken, he alone has destroyed them.
“Maria was the most beautiful person inside and out. She was kind, caring and clever with a cracking sense of humour.
“She would call family every day to talk about everything and nothing. Her voice was an integral part of our day that is now missing, that we will never hear again.
“She was always there to listen to us and our problems, which now seem so small in comparison to what she was dealing with.
“Her love for her family was unrivalled. Nothing compares to it.
“Joe was a free spirit. He was an enthusiast for everything life had to offer. He was naturally funny. He was determined to make his life better, he was making his life better, before it was so cruelly ripped away from him.
“He had always been kind and gentle and took the role of a protective older brother seriously. He was our rock.
“The last thing he did was try and save his mum; he is the bravest person we have ever known – he was our hero.
“They were kind and pure-hearted people. They were the best parts of all of us.”

DI George added:

“The work of officers in this case to make sure Ricotta faced justice was incredibly thorough.
“Witness accounts, financial records and forensic evidence were all employed to build a full and accurate picture of the incident.
“Maria had confided in those she trusted that Ricotta scared her, that she felt she was in danger. She was taking steps to catalogue his escalating behaviour and to remove him from his life.
“Ricotta’s violence that day was evident, but our investigation proved beyond doubt that his hatred of Maria for trying to leave him was the motivation.
“The clearer we made this picture, the weaker Ricotta’s defence became.
“It was a difficult, complex investigation, where every officer involved knew securing this plea meant securing justice for Maria and Joe’s family. I’d like to thank all those involved for their commitment.
“Lastly I thank the family again for their bravery throughout this case, and ask their privacy at this time is respected.”

In her sentencing remarks, The Honourable Mrs Justice Dame Mary Stacey said:

“I cannot add to the words of family read in court today that describe the impact of Maria and Joe on so many, and the void that is left. It was humbling to hear them.
“Joe’s courage standing up to you is in start contrast to the cowardly way you killed both of them.
“You used controlling and coercive behaviour to control Maria. Your vanity, pride and ego meant you would not agree to a divorce.
“Instead you tried to intimidate Maria into staying in a loveless marriage.
“By murdering your wife, you have effectively orphaned your children.”