Cosima Serrano broke down and wept Friday during testimony in an appeal court hearing into the murder conviction of her husband for the death of their niece Sarah Scazzi in August 2010.
Court is now hearing the appeal of Michele Misseri in the case that shocked Italy and dominated headlines.
Misseri was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder and kidnapping on August 26, 2010 of the girl.
Serrano told the court that her husband was very violent.
"My husband tried to attack me twice. The first with an ax, the second time in the country with a stone," she said.
Scazzi was found strangled in her southern Italian home and later her uncle, Michele Misseri, confessed to the murder.
His daughter Sabrina was arrested as his alleged accomplice After Sarah disappeared, the Misseris made numerous televised appeals for her discovery, Michele crying while announcing he had 'found' her cell phone.
A few days later, as investigators cornered him, Misseri admitted he had killed Sarah in his garage and committed post-mortem rape, only to retract the confession a few days later and accuse his daughter.
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