Selmi Faiez, a 38-year-old Tunisian national under investigation for domestic abuse and instigation to suicide concerning his partner Tania Bellinetti, invoked his right to silence during a preliminary hearing in Bologna. Bellinetti, 47, died on April 8th after falling from the third floor of her apartment building on Via Tolstoj in the Barca district.
The hearing before Judge Roberta Malavasi occurred via video link from Rome’s Rebibbia prison, where Faiez is detained. Represented by lawyer Emanuele Federici, Faiez has been held since August 11th following his extradition from France. He was arrested in Rennes on July 23rd by Interpol, acting on information provided by Bologna’s Mobile Squad.
Faiez had been sought for months after a pre-trial detention order was issued against him in December 2024 for domestic abuse. He has a prior conviction for abusing the same woman. The Bologna Prosecutor’s Office has also opened a separate investigation into Bellinetti’s death for suspected instigation to suicide, naming Faiez as a suspect. Investigators confirmed Faiez fled Bologna for France via Ventimiglia immediately after Bellinetti’s death, aided by a friend, before his capture in Rennes.
“The hearing today solely concerned the domestic abuse accusation. This is a complex case; I only spoke with my client briefly and need to review the documents thoroughly,” stated lawyer Federici. No timeframe is confirmed for Faiez’s transfer to Bologna.
Investigators aim to question Faiez regarding Bellinetti’s death when possible. His statements could potentially lead to more severe charges related to the instigation to suicide accusation.
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