Vincenzo Tavano has been jailed for life after admitting to the murder of celebrity restaurant boss at Manchester Crown Court
An Italian restaurant owner, who once hosted Premier League football stars such as Frank Lampard and Robin van Persie, was killed by a former chef after he began a double life as a cocaine dealer.
Giorgio Roncari, 60, was attacked at his riverside apartment in Salford, Greater Manchester, by his ex-employee and friend of four years Vincenzo Tavano, who wanted to buy drugs.
Tavano, 33, put a plastic bag over Roncari’s head after strangling him to death. He then proceeded to raid the drug lord’s property for credit cards and other goods before fleeing the scene in the victim’s Jaguar.
The killer went on a spending spree with the dead man’s bank cards at least 18 times, buying a McDonald’s meal, coffee machine, power drill and cigarettes – and even tried unsuccessfully to buy an iPhone.
Tavano was arrested when he was carrying out community service for another unrelated offencing relating to the theft of plant pots from a garden centre.
Giorgio Roncari, who rubbed shoulders with Premier League star Frank Lampard while working front-of-house at the Avalanche restaurant in Manchester
At Manchester Crown Court, Milan-born Tavano showed no emotion as he was jailed for life as he pleaded guilty to murder, fraud by false representation and taking a vehicle without consent.
Ordering Tavano to serve a minimum of 17 years in jail, the judge Mr Justice William Davis said: ‘The man you killed was a very good friend. He was a man who was well respected by friends and family and did a great deal of good for the community. He did a great deal of good for you and you say you are truly sorry, not least because he was such a good friend.
‘What you did was on a social visit to his home where he was entitled to full safety, you asked him for drugs and because you had not paid for previous drugs he refused and in refusing to accept that you began to strangle him.
‘It was for about a minute that you squeezed the life out of him. You say you didn’t intend to kill him but if you strangle someone, the risk of killing someone is so great that intention is pretty thin. Having killed him and put a plastic bag over his head, you went through his flat and stole what you could.
‘Having killed your friend, instead of grieving or trying to put right what you had done, you gathered up his bank cards and set about fleecing his bank accounts and spent a week or so doing so. It leads me to conclude the remorse and sorrow you feel has come very late in the day.’
Roncari had been a former cruise ship worker who was appointed front-of-house manager at the trendy Italian restaurant Avalanche in Manchester.
As well as being visited by Frank Lampard and Robin van Persie, other Premier League stars including Stephen Ireland and Marouane Fellani have also been pictured on social media at the venue, as well as Roncari serving Coronation Street stars.
But the restaurant which previously enjoyed an annual turnover of £2million closed in August 2016 after falling into debt and failing hygiene tests.
Roncari began dealing in fine wines but was arrested and charged with drug trafficking in February 2016 after it emerged he was dealing in cocaine.
His body was found when in April when detectives went to his apartment after he failed to report to a police station as part of his bail.
Italian restaurant boss Giorgio Roncari also welcomed Coronation Street stars, such as actress Katie McGlynn, at his eaterie before it closed down
Michael Hayton prosecuting said: ‘The defendant was arrested for the murder whilst on community service for offences of dishonesty and three of Mr Roncari’s cards were found in his possession.
‘During his first police interview, the defendant said he was a good friend of the deceased and described him as a kind and sweet man. He said that Mr Roncari was good enough to look after him and that he would lend him bank cards for his use.
‘But he then said he attended the address following communication and went to get drugs but because there was already money outstanding, Roncari declined to extend further credit.
‘As a consequence he became angry and took hold Mr Roncari by the neck. The deceased tried to break free but the defendant said he was too strong. After about a minute he increased the pressure until his eyes rolled back and he fell to the floor.
‘He said the plastic bag was placed over his head because the defendant was unsure whether his friend was alive or dead and it was to see whether was any condensation or movement of the bag. He said he did not intend to kill him.
‘The bag being placed over Mr Roncari’s head caused the family great upset and his father died very shortly after his death.’
In mitigation defence counsel Andrew Thomas said: ‘The defendant does wish to say through me how truly sorry he is for the offence he has committed. For about four years, Roncari had been one of his closest friends.
‘For most of his 33 years he lived a blameless life but his life seemingly fell of a cliff and cocaine had a lot to do with that. When Mr Roncari was running Avalanche he helped the defendant to find work and from time to time he leant the defendant his card.
‘Mr Roncari was not just a friend but of great assistance which makes this in so many ways all the more sad and tragic. The defendant had gone to Mr Roncari’s flat for a social visit and he was also hoping that he would supply him with a small amount of cocaine which he had done in the past. In an argument, the defendant grabbed the deceased around the neck and strangled him, causing his death.
‘It was not a killing for financial gain. He accepts he used the cards, but the total amount of gain was just a little over £1,200 pounds.’