Inquest hears grandmother Lucia Amenta, found dead in barrel, had firey reputation

A GRANDMOTHER found badly decomposed in a barrel in 2009 had a "firey" reputation and nagged her husband, her inquest has been told.

A GRANDMOTHER found badly decomposed in a barrel in 2009 had a "firey" reputation and nagged her husband, her inquest has been told.

Lucia Amenta vanished from her Fawkner home after her husband Paolo went to by bread in January 2008.

When he returned he found the back door unlocked, and schnitzels she had been cooking still warm on the kitchen table.

Some of her jewellery was missing and clothes she was believed to be wearing were later found wet in the laundry sink.

Despite an extensive search, Mrs Amenta was never seen again until council workers discovered her body curled in a foetal position in a barrel in October 2009.

Both Paolo and her youngest son John Amenta - who she was cooking the schnitzels for - have denied any involvement in her death.

BODY IN BARREL A MYSTERY - SON

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Yesterday her inquest heard she had fallen out with her oldest son Paul over his marriage and a house the family owned in Coburg.

Detective Senior Constable Nathan Toey, the investigating officer for the coroner, said John Amenta had described his mother as hot tempered woman who had beaten his father.

"My mother used to bash my father," John Amenta told police. Other friends described Mrs Amenta as deeply religious but who also nagged her husband The inquest heard the homicide squad had planted listening devices in John Amenta's home and intercepted telephone calls in which he had discussed barrels and threatened his former partner "I swear on my mum, you're going to die too," John Amenta was recorded saying.

Sen Const. Toey told the inquest John Amenta had convictions for assault, theft and drug related offences.

He said John Amenta lived an extravagant lifestyle, had purchased a $200,000 Ferrari in 2008 despite declaring an income of less than $15,000.

Police also seized a barrel similar to the one the 70-year-old was found in from the backyard of her home.

John and Paolo Amenta are expected to give evidence tomorrow.

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