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The Cataldi sisters
MURDERERS: Lidia and Franca Cataldi
VICTIMS: Angela Barruca and her son Gianni
PLACE AND DATE: Rome, 20 October 1945
MATERIAL EVIDENCE: kitchen knife
PROVENANCE: Rome, Court of Appeal, 1952
On 20 October 1945, Lidia and Franca Cataldi, aged 22 and 17 respectively, killed Angela Barruca and her 3-year-old son Gianni. The murder took place in Rome, in the victim’s apartment at number 70 Piazza Vittorio.
Married to shopkeeper Pietro Belli and mother of three children, Angela Barruca was from Colleferro, the same town as the Cataldi sisters who had come to Rome after Colleferro was bombed. The sisters were looking for work, and Angela had lent them money on several occasions.
On the morning of 20 October 1945, the Cataldi sisters went to the victim’s home to ask for more money, but Angela Barruca refused to give them any. A violent argument ensued, and Angela was pinned down on the sofa, while her son Gianni was locked in the bathroom.
Afraid of being reported to the police, the sisters began to panic and stabbed Angela repeatedly with a kitchen knife. They then attacked the little boy mercilessly with the same weapon.
Before leaving the apartment, the sisters stole a fox fur belonging to the victim. They then fled, leaving the knife on a wall in Piazza Vittorio.
Thanks to the caretaker of the building, who had seen them running away, the sisters were caught and tried for the double murder.
