Transsexual in Italian scandal found murdered

Italian authorities have opened an investigation after a Brazilian transsexual prostitute, known only as Brenda, was found burnt to death in her basement flat in Rome on Friday. Brenda had been involved in a scandal affecting Piero Marrazzo, a leading Italian politician, who had had to resign as Governor of Lazio last month.

Four policemen had allegedly tried to blackmail Marrazzo (above) with film footage which showed him having sex with Natalie, another transsexual prostitute, and snorting cocaine. The carabinieri had recorded this footage, in August, after breaking into Natalie’s apartment.

Recently Brenda, who also lived in a part of Rome favoured by transsexuals, came under investigation after making claims that she had a second video of Marrazzo on her computer. Then, two weeks ago, Brenda was mugged in the street, and had her mobile phone stolen from her. She told police that she had been attacked by a gang of eastern Europeans.

After she was taken to hospital, Brenda attacked a doctor with a pair of scissors. Barbara, a prostitute friend of Brenda's, said that she had discussed suicide in recent weeks. "She was psychologically ill, she wanted to return to Brazil. Now they must find who did this," she said.

When police searched Brenda's charred apartment after the fire, they found packed suitcases and said that there was evidence of flammable liquid near her partially-clothed body. Investigators found her computer in a sink, and say that it was soaking, which in all likelihood indicated that somebody had wanted to destroy evidence on its hard drive.

Piero Marrazzo, a former journalist who became governor of Lazio in 2005, resigned from his post after the scandal came to light in October. Admitting his indiscretions, he initially sought refuge in a monastery. Because prostitution is legal in Italy, Marrazzo does not face prosecution. However, while one of the four policemen involved with the videos was sent home without charge, two are now in jail and another is under house arrest.

Responding to Brenda's death, Marrazzo’s lawyer, Luca Petrucci, called it "really worrying news" and requested police protection for Natalie. "I can't believe that last week this person was attacked and robbed and then a few hours ago burnt to death. We must find out what's behind it," said Petrucci. He recalled a 1990s case involving a police gang who committed robberies and then killed the witnesses.