Italian wanted for murder consents to extradition

An Italian man, wanted in his country for murdering a businessman, was arrested in Malta on Sunday and yesterday started facing extradition proceedings.

Giuseppe Lauretta, 42, who was born in Germany, consented to being sent back to Italy, where he is wanted for shooting 35-year-old Ettore Marcoli in Novara on January 20, 2010.

He was arrested in Malta on the strength of a European Arrest Warrant issued on the request of the Courts of Novara. Yesterday Mr Lauretta, known as Pino Lametta, appeared before Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna to face extradition proceedings.

During the sitting he said he was a handyman and also declared that he did not object to being sent to back to Novara.

Various international news portals reported Mr Lauretta’s arrest in Malta. In a telephone interview with La Stampa, he said he had not escaped to Malta but came here for business a few months ago and stayed because he found love. He was then informed by his family that he was wanted in Italy.

In the interview he denied killing Mr Marcoli, adding he did not even know who the man was.

The Tribuna Novarese reported that Mr Lauretta was one of six men believed to have been involved in the murder allegedly motivated by clashes over business.

Mr Lauretta is suspected of having actually fired the gun that killed Mr Marcoli. The Tribuna Novarese also reported that after the murder, the six men – who are all under arrest – went to celebrate over a meal. Magistrate Apap Bologna put off the case to Monday when he will give a ruling on the extradition. This remains within the court’s discretion even though Mr Lauretta has no objection to being extradited.

Inspector Mario Cuschieri prosecuted.