Man ‘beat stepson, 7, to death with stick as mum did nothing

A man beat his seven-year-old stepson to death with a stick while the child’s mum did nothing to stop him, a court was told.

After Tony Essobti Badre, 25, allegedly carried out the attack on Giuseppe D. in Cardito, Naples, his mum Valentina Casa left him to die before finally calling for help, prosecutors say.

During a four hour indictment hearing, prosecutors in the Court of Naples in the Italian city, sought life sentences for Badre and Casa.

Prosecutors Paola Izzo and Fabio Sozio say Casa was present on the night Giuseppe was killed.

The mother is accused of leaving her dying son unattended for a long period before deciding to call the emergency services.

She also allegedly did nothing to help her two young children when she was present on previous occasions during attacks on the children.

Neighbours said that they were aware of the abuse and that Casa covered for her Italian-Tunisian partner’s alleged violence many times in the past.

Badre is accused of the voluntary murder of Giuseppe, the attempted murder of his younger sister, and the mistreatment of the family aggravated by cruelty.

The trial continues.