A BRITISH man has appeared in court after being arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman in Italy.
Michele Faiers, 66, was found dead at her home near the small town of Casoli in the Abruzzo region of Italy on Wednesday.
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Michael Whitbread, a retired driving instructor and shop owner, was arrested in England later that day after driving from Italy to the UK.
The 74-year-old appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court for extradition proceedings on Saturday and was asked if he consented to be extradited to Italy where he now lives.
He said he did not and was subsequently ordered to return to the same court on November 9, in custody, for a preliminary hearing.
Darren Watts for the Italian legal authorities told the court: “This is a murder of the requested person’s partner.
“He arrived in the UK on Wednesday and was arrested.”
The court heard Whitbread is a grandfather with close family connections.
He was in the UK to visit family and had planned to return to Italy.
District judge John Zani made clear on Saturday that “this is an accusation” and the grandfather had not been convicted of anything.
He told Whitbread: “The Italian authorities wish you to return to face trial there because it is a very serious allegation.
“In the event you are convicted, a very lengthy sentence of imprisonment would almost be inevitable.”
The judge added: “You live in Italy and say that you were visiting family.
“I cannot ignore the fact that your visit here happened soon after the allegation of murder happened but a few days ago.”
He said the court is “working towards a full hearing” at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 26 next year.
