Burned body found in southern Italy identified as sports journalist

A charred body found by firefighters in farmland in the southern Italian province of Salerno has been identified as local sports journalist Luigi Esposito, prosecutors said.

Firefighters discovered the body while extinguishing a fire in a farm plot in Eboli, a municipality in the Campania region. Salerno prosecutor Raffaele Cantone said in a press release that early investigative checks indicated the incident was likely connected to homicidal conduct.

Italy's national order of journalists said Esposito, 53, was known as Luca and was a registered journalist who covered sports for several local news organisations as a commentator and editor. The order said he also had a day job at the regional environmental agency.

The journalists' order said Esposito was apparently killed by gunfire and then set on fire among the vegetation. Its national president, Carlo Bartoli, said the order was waiting for the investigation to clarify the context of the killing.