'Suspect to confess' in teen's slaying

(ANSA) - Pesaro, July 22 - Defence attorney Salvatore Asole said on Wednesday his client, Igli Meta, arrested Tuesday in connection with the death of Ismaele Lulli, intends to deliver a full confession to the murder from the prison near Pesaro where he is being held.
    Lulli, a 17-year-old student, was found dead with his throat slit and was allegedly targeted out of jealousy, as investigators said Meta thought Lulli was involved with his girlfriend Ambera.
    It is alleged that Meta therefore wanted to punish the teen.
    The girlfriend, from Macedonia, confirmed the motive, said Col. Antonio Sommese of the Pesaro carabinieri police. Lulli was allegedly set up by his suspected killers prior to his murder. Police said Lulli encountered Meta and Marjo Mema, the other suspect arrested on Tuesday, at a bus stop and he accepted their invitation to go to a nearby river for a swim. Lulli got into Mema's car "without coercion", investigators said.
    Investigators said Mema, an Albanian from Tirana, is cooperating with them.
    The pair are accused of manslaughter, and prosecutor Irene Lilliu is evaluating whether or not to apply a charge of premeditation to the crime.
    Traces of adhesive tape were found on a tree trunk near the body, which was found in a wooded area near the Marche port city of Pesaro.
    Police said the tape was used to bind Lulli prior to slitting his throat.
    The cut was so deep that Lulli "was nearly decapitated," Sommese said.
    The arrested men, aged 19 and 20, are from nearby towns.
    Investigators said when they went to bring Meta in for interrogations, he "was probably preparing to escape to Albania," as he was sleeping in his car and had an amount of cash with him.
    Lulli was last heard from Sunday, when he sent text messages to his family saying he was planning to move to Milan.
    When he did not return home that night, his mother called police, who say they are treating the case as a murder.
    An autopsy has been ordered for Wednesday.
    The teenager's cell phone was also found.