Lodi prosecutors have opened an
investigation into instigation to suicide in relation to the
death of a local restaurateur following a media backlash over an
allegedly fake critique of her pizzeria and her response in
order to establish the origin of the post in question.
Giovanna Pedretti, 59, is believed to have committed suicide in
a northern Italian river after coming under fire on social media
over a review from a 'customer' complaining he had been seated
near a gay couple and a disabled boy.
The woman won plaudits for her reply barring the 'customer' from
the restaurant, only to then be exposed by state broadcaster
Rai's left-leaning Rai3 news channel Tg3, liberal food blogger
and influencer Lorenzo Biagiarelli, and the latter's partner and
fellow liberal influencer Selvaggia Lucarelli, for allegedly
writing the review herself in order to get publicity.
Carabinieri police are now trying to trace the identity of the
computer or smartphone from which the online review of the
pizzeria Le Vignole in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano originated.
Investigators are also trying to establish exactly what happened
on Sunday morning, when the woman left her home by car at dawn
before allegedly slashing her wrists and then throwing herself
into the Lambro river.
The autopsy is due to be carried out in Pavia on Wednesday.
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