Vincenzo Pietropaolo has been found guilty of two murder charges on November 2 in the Johannesburg High Court.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 19.
The former treasury head at the Sandton-based Bank of Athens murdered his father, Pasqualino, in his sleep in March 2017 and on November 13 that same year he shot his estranged wife, Manuela Giuliana Pietropaolo, also known as Mannie, nine times at her home in Iris Street in Brackenhurst.
Ballistics have shown the gun used to kill Mannie was reportedly missing from the house of Pasqualino on the day he was murdered.
The couple was married but had been separated for three years before her death. Manuela was in the process of divorcing her husband when she was shot.
The case has been ongoing since 2017 and finally, on November 2 judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng delivered his judgment in the Pietropaolo double murder case.
ALSO READ:
Second Christmas in prison for Vincenzo Pietropaolo
On November 3 the sentencing was delayed because of Pietropaolo insisting on a private social worker’s assessment being done before the sentence being handed down.
The night he shot Manuela
Pietropaolo claimed he was dropping off documents at Manuela’s house when she called him to the front door and, according to Pietropaolo, there was an argument and he was provoked by an emotional storm started by Manuela. That was when he discharged his firearm.
A vehicle tracking expert who investigated the matter testified on February 22, 2019, that according to Pietropaolo’s car tracking system, he took less than three minutes to shoot his estranged wife. His vehicle had been travelling near Manuela’s home for an hour before finally pulling up in front of her home at about 9.18pm.
After the shooting, the car began moving again and sped off from the house.
ALSO READ:
Man accused of shooting wife in Iris Street, Brackendowns denied bail
He was arrested later that day at his home in Blairgowrie. Police spokesperson Sgt Lindie Moloi told the RECORD in 2017 that two firearms were recovered from Pietropaolo’s home.
Previous court cases
October 20
During a court case on October 20, Pietropaolo changed his story and told the court he had previously lied under oath when he admitted to killing Manuela.
He claimed he was not of sound mind when he made such admissions because he was allegedly recovering from a coma after he attempted suicide.
The accused said on the night of the murder he went to Manuela’s home to drop off vehicle documents which he left in her post box and then went home, not knowing how she was murdered. The state prosecutor cross-examined Pietropaolo and told him he is lying to the court, and he has now submitted two different versions and which version should the court believe.
ALSO READ:
Enzo Pietropaolo fit to stand trial following a psychological evaluation
The accused said that was for the court to decide.
The accused also denied he was involved in his father’s murder, although admitted he was in possession of his brother’s firearm, which the State has proved was used in Manuela’s murder. The defence closed their case and the matter commenced on October 23 for closing arguments.
October 23
The matter proceeded, where the court heard closing arguments from both the State and defence.
The State asked the court to make the right decision when choosing which version to believe based on the overwhelming evidence against the accused.
The State told the court the accused was a self-confessed liar, as the accused had previously admitted to lying under oath.
Both the State and defence closed their case and Mokgoatlheng advised the court he would reserve his judgment which will be made on November 2.
ALSO READ:
Evidence from a car tracking company places Pietropaolo at the scene
