Marrazzo case prostitute found dead
Transsexual 'was suicidal', co-workers claim
20 November, 12:32
(ANSA) - Rome, November 20 - A transsexual prostitute linked to an Italian regional governor who resigned in a sex scandal last month was found dead in her burned-out apartment Friday.
A bottle of whisky and packed suitcases were found near the semi-naked and burned body of the Brazilian transsexual, who called herself Brenda.
Brenda was one of two transsexual prostitutes involved in the case of former Lazio governor Piero Marrazzo who resigned on October 27 after it emerged he was being blackmailed by rogue cops.
The other prostitute, Natalie, appeared in the video with Marrazzo, which was shot on August 3 after two of a gang of four Carabinieri broke into her apartment.
Marrazzo's lawyer, Luca Petrucci, said "the affair is taking a tragic and worrying turn" and called for Natalie to be placed under police protection.
Brenda had the work number of Marrazzo and used to phone him there while Natalie used to contact him on his cellphone.
The dead transsexual, who has denied having sex with the ex-governor, was questioned in the Marrazzo case on November 2 about the possible existence of a second video.
A week later, on November 9, she was found lying drunk and bruised on a Rome street claiming she had been robbed by a gang of eastern Europeans.
Police had to stop her banging her head off a car.
She was taken to hospital where she tried to attack a doctor with a scissors.
Two prostitutes told police Friday that Brenda had "often" spoken about suicide.
Another, Barbara, said "they killed her, I don't know who".
"She was psychologically ill, she wanted to return to Brazil. Now they must find who did this," she said.
Brenda is the second person linked to the Marrazzo case to die.
The other, an elderly and obese drug pusher popular among the prostitutes, Gianguarino Cafasso, had a fatal heart attack in September.
Police are awaiting the results of final tests to corroborate if his death was caused, as believed, by an overdose.
