An Italian mother who murdered her own son, dismembered him and covered his body with lime has claimed she was protecting his girlfriend.
Alessandro Venier's remains were found in a rubbish bin at his home in Gemona del Friuli, near the north-eastern city of Udine.
The 35-year-old's remains were found buried in quicklime to disguise the smell. He was reportedly cut up into three parts.
His mother, 61-year-old nurse Lorena Venier, confessed to the crime, telling prosecutors: 'I have done a terrible thing.'
She told police that her 35-year-old son was abusing her and his Colombian girlfriend, 30-year-old Mailyn Castro Monsalvo, who was also the mother of his six-month-old daughter.
