A MUM who confessed to murdering her own son before dismembering the body has claimed she was protecting his girlfriend.

Lorena Venier, a 61-year-old nurse, told cops she killed her son Alessandro, 35, as he had been abusing her and his Colombian partner.

Mailyn Castro Monsalvo - the mother of Alessandro's six-month-old child - confessed to helping with the brutal murder as her and Lorena were quickly arrested.

Alessandro's remains were found at his home in Gemona del Friuli, near the north-eastern city of Udine, Italy .

His corpse was initially dumped in the family 's rubbish bin before being moved when it started to rot and smell.

Police later discovered it buried in quicklime and reportedly cut up into three parts.

After being questioned, Lorena also confessed to the murder

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