Police in Italy have arrested a former officer for the murder of his 22-year-old lover 17 years ago after receiving an anonymous tip-off.

Investigators now believe the former officer smothered the young woman with a pillow so his wife would not find out about their affair.

Sacked traffic cop Maurizio Mirko Abate, 52, was arrested in San Lucido, Calabria region, southern Italy on 25th October.

He is accused of murdering Lisa Gabriele from nearby Rose on 7th October 2005 after telling her they had to break up.

Lisa’s body was found in a thicket in nearby Montalto Uffugo the following morning.

A suicide note, packs of tranquillisers, and bottles of spirits were found at the scene, but an autopsy ordered by the prosecutor showed she had actually been suffocated.

Investigations at the time did not yield any results, leading to a case being filed against unknown persons in October 2009.

But an anonymous letter sent to police in 2018 led to the murder investigation being reopened.

New investigations revealed that Abate allegedly smothered Lisa with a pillow following the end of their stormy relationship.

He then allegedly took her body to the spot where it was found hours later.

According to the letter, Lisa was in love with Abate and could not come to terms with their break-up.

Abate was allegedly worried that his wife would find out about his extra-marital affair and take his newborn son away from him.

Police believe the affair was marked by psychological and physical violence.

In spite of this, Lisa had tried to continue the relationship, despite fearing for her own life and the lives of her loved ones.

Ten days before her death, her pet dog was found suspiciously dead.

Abate was previously arrested for illegal possession of weapons, leading to his dismissal from the police in 2019.

He is believed to have stolen a colleague’s gun.

He is also reportedly being investigated for drug dealing, specifically for purchasing and reselling cannabis.

Police believe Abate acted with an accomplice, who helped him take Lisa’s body from the flat where the alleged murder was committed to the woods in Montalto Uffugo.

Police in nearby Rende are working to identify him.

Abate – whose age was given as 50 in some reports – has been remanded in custody and is denying any wrongdoing.