Turkish police have suspect in killing of Italian artist
Last Updated: Sunday, April 13, 2008 | 10:59 AM ET
CBC News
Turkish police say they've charged a man with the murder of Italian artist Giuseppina Pasqualino di Marineo, who was last seen in March travelling through the country in a bridal gown as part of a performance piece.
Police said they found di Marineo's nude body on Saturday in a forest near the town of Gebze in northwestern Turkey. They said they tracked down suspect Murat Karatas, 38, on Friday when he switched on di Marineo's mobile phone, into which he had inserted his own phone card.
Reports from Turkey say the suspect has confessed to strangling her with his hands.
The artist, also known as Pippa Bacca, began hitchhiking with a friend on March 8 from her hometown of Milan to the Palestinian territories as part of her "Brides on Tour" project calling for peace in conflict areas.
The two separated near Istanbul and had planned to reunite in Beirut, Lebanon. Di Marineo was last seen hitchhiking in Gebze.
"Her travels were for an artistic performance and to give a message of peace and trust, but not everyone deserves trust," said Antonia Pasqualino di Marineo, the artist's sister.
However, the artist's family emphasized that they don't harbour any ill will toward Turkey.
"We can't blame all Turkish people for this incident. Nobody could have predicted my daughter would encounter such a maniac,'' Elena Manzoni, the artist's mother, told Italian TV channel RAI on Saturday.
Manzoni said she plans to bring back her daughter's bridal gown for an exhibition as a memorial.
"I offer both her family and Italian nation my condolence," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement released on Sunday.
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