British pensioner with one arm and one leg is found dead in the boot of his car with his throat slashed in Italy 

  • Anthony Collinssplatt, 77, was found dead in the boot of his Nissan Micra, parked in the garage of his Pavullo, Italy, home on March 10
  • He had a deep cut in his throat and his artificial arm and leg were missing
  • Officials are still looking for a weapon that would have caused the neck wound
  • Police initially thought Collinssplatt could have cut his own throat before climbing into the boot, but the force has now launched a murder investigation
  • Collinssplatt lived in Italy for more than 35 years working at English schools

By KELLY MCLAUGHLIN FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Anthony Collinssplatt, pictured in his younger years, was found dead in the boot of his Nissan Micra, parked in the garage of his Pavullo, Italy, home on March 10

Anthony Collinssplatt, pictured in his younger years, was found dead in the boot of his Nissan Micra, parked in the garage of his Pavullo, Italy, home on March 10

A 77-year-old British man with only one leg and one arm has been found dead with his throat slit in the boot of his car in Italy.

Anthony Collinssplatt had a deep cut in his throat, blood on his right hand and his artificial arm and leg were missing when police found his body in the boot of his Nissan Micra, parked in the garage of his Pavullo home on March 10.

His body was first discovered by his friend and cleaner, who has not been named publicly.

Police initially thought Collinssplatt, who lived in Italy for more than 35 years before his death, could have cut his own throat before climbing into the boot, but the force has now launched a murder investigation.

Local media reports said that traces of blood were found in his kitchen, but no other parts of the home, which is near Modena.

Officials are still looking for a weapon that would have caused the deep gash in Collinssplatt's neck.  

Collinssplatt moved to Italy after getting a job at the Cambridge Institute language school and managed an English Language school in the 1970s and '80s.

He lost a leg during a car accident while studying at Exeter University and later lost an arm in a horse-riding incident. Both happened before he moved to Italy.

His prosthetic limbs were not found when Collinssplatt's body was discovered, but a crutch he often used was found on the ground near the vehicle.

Police are questioning Collinssplatt's former students and looking into his bank accounts.

Collinssplatt had a deep cut in his throat, blood on his right hand and his artificial arm and leg were missing when police found his body. His home in Pavullo is pictured above

Collinssplatt had a deep cut in his throat, blood on his right hand and his artificial arm and leg were missing when police found his body. His home in Pavullo 

Collinssplatt lived in Italy for more than 35 years. His home was in Pavullo, Italy, near Modena

Collinssplatt lived in Italy for more than 35 years. His home was in Pavullo, Italy, near Modena

His best friend, Tim Keates, who also lived in Pavullo, said that Collinssplatt would visit family in England once a year.

While Collinssplatt never married, he lived with an Italian woman for several years and had a close relationship with the woman's son, Keates told The Guardian.

'He loved his life in Italy very much,' he said. 'He came to teach at the language school and when the boss of that school went back to the UK and never returned, he got the job of managing it.'

Keates said that he doesn't believe that Collinssplatt would kill himself. Though his home showed no sign of a break in, Collinssplatt would leave his door open because of his dog, Keates said.

'The police are baffled; obviously they're keeping an open mind about it, which they have to,' Keates said. 'But I think they are investigating the possibility of there having been an intruder.'

Italy

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