Michael Whitbread, 75, confessed in an Italian court to murdering his partner Michele Fairs, 66, in their home. Fairs, a mother of three, was found dead on October 29, 2023, with seven stab wounds. Whitbread claimed she was “obsessively jealous” and had been abusive towards him. The couple had a tumultuous relationship, with incidents of violence preceding her death. Friends reported Fairs had expressed fears for her safety. After finding her body, a friend called police. Whitbread was arrested shortly after returning to the UK. He later apologized to Fairs’ daughters for the tragedy.
A British man has confessed in court to murdering his partner in their dream home in Italy, claiming she was “obsessively jealous” and beat him.
Michele Fairs, a 66-year-old mother of three, met her partner Michael Whitbread, a 75-year-old former IT consultant, at her home in the Italian hilltop village of Verratti in October 2023. Police found him dead in the home he shared.
Her body was found by a friend, covered in sheets, in a first-floor bedroom. She was in her underwear and had been stabbed seven times in the back.
“I wish I hadn’t done it and I apologize,” Whitbread told Lanciano court during the trial.
According to a new report from Italian public broadcaster RAI, this is the first time Mr Whitbread has pleaded guilty to his partner’s death on October 29, 2023.
According to RAI’s TGR Abruzzo regional news, Mr Whitbread also sent a letter of apology to Mr Faires’ daughters.
But Mr Whitbread also blamed his behavior on his partner’s “obsessive jealousy” and said Mr Freyers had hit him.
In fact, Fairs herself was allegedly assaulted by Whitbread following a heated argument between the couple in the weeks before her death.
Mr Whitbread, 75, is led from court by police after confessing to killing his partner.
Michael Whitbread (right), 75, confessed in court to killing his partner Michelle Faires (left), 66.
Michelle Faires and Michael Whitbread’s home in Verratti, Italy, where Michelle’s body was discovered
Her best friend, Petrina Key, said the attack left her “covered in bruises” and “fearing for her life.” Her body was later discovered in a farmhouse in Contrada Verratti, Italy’s Chieti province, near the town. of Kasauli.
Police said Michelle was “doubting her partner’s fidelity” and was “considering leaving him and returning to the UK”.
She is said to have become “upset and suspicious” of him after seeing him spanking a female friend at a New Year’s Eve party.
According to prosecutors’ documents, Michele revealed her suspicions about Whitbread to her friend Petrina, and after a violent argument, she was forced to sleep at his home for a week in early October 2023. It has become.
Mr Petrina told detectives that a “violent fight” between Michele and Whitbread caused his friend to “fear for his life” and that he also opened up about their bitter relationship leading up to his death.
When Michele did not return her messages, she became worried and found her dead in her bedroom. Petrina called 911 and found her dead on November 1st.
Police confirmed she was murdered four days ago, and Ms Whitbread was detained by British police in Shepshed, near Loughborough, Leicestershire, after driving across Italy, Switzerland and France.
He was arrested at his daughter’s home just hours after Michelle was found. Michelle said she had been at her daughter’s house after reading the death report on Mail Online and called police.
Ms Faires’ daughters speak with one of the lawyers at the courthouse where Mr Whitbread’s trial was held.
Fayers was found at his rural home in Contrada Verratti, Italy’s Chieti province, near the town of Casoli.
Police said Michelle “had doubts about her partner’s chastity” and was “considering leaving him and returning to the UK”.
Fairs and Whitbread’s Italian home was seen sealed off by police in November 2023, two months after Michele was found murdered.
Michael Whitbread (right) has been arrested in the UK on suspicion of murder after Michelle Faires (left) was found dead in her home.
Nearby law enforcement sources said Whitbread was “always a little tipsy” while Michelle was “calm and calm.”
Police used surveillance cameras to check the situation. Whitbread arrived at the couple’s home in his Jeep Compass in the early morning hours of October 29, and began the 1,000-mile drive to England.
Traffic cameras captured him entering Switzerland from Italy near Lake Maggiore at 4pm that afternoon, but the last cell phone ringing was from near Como earlier that afternoon.
Mr Whitbread’s legal team has requested a psychiatric consultant, and the court is expected to appoint one on February 7th.
The prosecuting attorney said: “That was really important to him.” [Mr Whitbread] Taking such responsibility, not just for the trail, but as an act of human decency. I don’t know how useful it is now, but after all.”