The Italian man accused of stabbing his beautiful ex-girlfriend 31 times while she protected her new lover has told the court he was only carrying a knife in case he needed to “chop food”.

He confessed to the crime, however, and also took the opportunity to issue a token apology to the victim’s family, but without showing any emotion or indication that he really meant it, according to prosecutors.

The victim Sonia Di Maggio, 29, and her boyfriend Francesco Damiano, then 29, were on their way to the supermarket when they were reportedly attacked by Salvatore Carfora, who hails from the city of Torre Annunziata in the Metropolitan City of Naples in the Italian region of Campania.

The brutal killing took place in the town of Specchia Gallone, part of the municipality of Minervino in the region of Apulia, on 1st February 2021.

Carfora, 39, told the court: “I just wanted her back, I did not want to hurt her. I approached her in the street about coming with me to Naples, but when she replied it was too late. I grabbed the weapon and stabbed her.”

When asked why he had brought a knife with him, the defendant said: “I had it in case I needed to defend myself and as a utensil for chopping food, as I did not have a place to sleep.”

According to local reports, Carfora attacked Damiano with the knife as the victim tried to defend him, shielding him with her body.

Di Maggio was stabbed in the neck, chest and abdomen as her boyfriend screamed for help, but by the time anyone arrived, Carfora had already escaped.

The young woman was bleeding heavily as her boyfriend and some passersby tried to resuscitate her and called the police.

She was taken to the hospital, but died shortly after arrival.

Carfora was stopped by officers as he was trying to catch a train out of town.

He was still wearing the clothes and backpack he had on at the time of the crime.

Damiano said: “We were going to the supermarket alone, then he came out of nowhere, grabbed her by her neck and started stabbing her continuously over 20 times.”

Sonia had left her ex months earlier and had recently moved to Apulia from the city of Rimini in the region of Emilia-Romagna to live with her new boyfriend, but Carfora reportedly continued to stalk her, send her messages, and even threatened to kill her.

Carfora was discharged from a psychiatric hospital in the city of Aversa in the region of Campania months before the murder and ended up on the streets afterwards, according to local media.

The police said he was also released from prison after stabbing a parking attendant during a row, an incident that happened before the murder.

The next hearing is set for 15th February.