An Italian bricklayer may have forced his 17-year-old daughter to watch as he slaughtered his wife and two sons in a bid to rid their home of 'demons', investigators have claimed.
Giovanni
Barreca, 54, confessed to murdering his wife Antonella Salamone, 40, and their
sons Kevin, 15, and Emanuel, five, at their house in Altavilla Milicia, near
Palermo.
A couple, who
have been dubbed 'religious fanatics' by locals are accused of acting as his
accomplices in the killings.
Massimo
Carandente and Sabrina Fina were arrested after Barreca called the Carabinieri
on Saturday night, reportedly telling them: 'I killed my family, I am waiting
for you to come and get me... there was a demon in the house.'
The children
are said to have been strangled, with one of the boys found in chains. Police
discovered their bodies inside the family home, ANSA reports, while their
mother's charred remains were located buried in the garden.
The killings
may have taken place over several days, with initial examinations of the bodies
suggesting that the boys were murdered last Friday while their mother was
killed earlier in the week.
The only
family member who was spared was Barreca's daughter, who was found in her
bedroom and is said to be in a state of shock.
Police are
looking into whether the teenager was drugged and forced to watch the massacre,
La Stampa reports, and have been speaking to the girl.
'He wanted to
free us from the devil,' she reportedly told investigators.
'My father was
convinced that the house was haunted by the devil.'
Police have
described the testimony as 'interesting' as they work to ascertain whether the
killings were part of a sickening exorcism ritual.
Neighbours
have alleged that Barreca beat his wife and that he had a bizarre obsession
with Satan, sending them links and even believing that cats were animals of the
devil.
Barreca told
prosecutors that he has wanted to free his victims of 'demons' and he is
alleged to have been encouraged by Carandente and Fina.
The trio met
during a prayer meeting at an evangelical church.
An arrest
order for Carandente and Fina was issued yesterday and police managed to track
them down using Barreca's phone and locals' testimony.
The couple,
both from Palermo, were taken to the prosecutor's office and are facing
multiple murder charges.
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