Man hid aunt's corpse to collect her pension

Rome, June 16 (IANS) A 43-year-old Italian man hid the body of his 87-year-old aunt in her apartment, and collected her monthly pension of 2,000 euros, AKI news agency reported.

Fireman broke into the apartment in Benevento city and discovered the decomposing corpse of Nunziatina Perna concealed in two plastic bags, after neighbours alerted police to a foul odour coming from the property.

Her nephew -- named only as C.M. -- was questioned by police, and confessed to hiding his aunt's body in order to continue collecting her pension.

The man, who is having financial problems, was earlier authorised by the woman to collect the pension on her behalf.

After discovering her body, the man told police he had left the windows of the apartment open to hide the smell and continued to visit regularly, even bringing bags of shopping with him to conceal her death from neighbours.