Italy: 12-Year Jail Term for Ex-Motorway Chief in Genoa Bridge Disaster That Killed 43
An Italian court has sentenced the former chief executive of Autostrade per l'Italia (Aspi), Giovanni Castellucci, to 12 years in prison for the collapse of the Morandi bridge in Genoa in August 2018. The disaster killed 43 people when a section of the motorway viaduct gave way during a rainstorm, sending vehicles plunging to the ground.
Castellucci, who is already serving a six-year sentence for a separate road disaster in 2013, was one of 57 defendants in the trial. Another senior official, Michele Donferri Mitelli, was sentenced to 11 years. Paolo Berti, the former deputy head of the motorway operator, received five and a half years — seven years less than prosecutors had sought.
Prosecutors had argued that maintenance of the ageing structure was repeatedly delayed and warning signs ignored. They sought a total of 400 years in prison for all defendants, but the court handed down significantly shorter terms. All defendants denied wrongdoing, with defence lawyers attributing the collapse to a design flaw involving a cable encased in concrete.
Relatives of victims expressed mixed reactions. Emmanuel Diaz, whose brother Henry died, told Italian television he was "very satisfied" with the verdict. Egle Possetti, who lost her sister and her family, said the 12-year sentence for Castellucci was "acceptable."
The bridge, designed by Riccardo Morandi and opened in 1967, had been a key transport link. The trial, held in Genoa, focused on failures in maintenance and oversight. Castellucci was not present in court when the verdicts were read by Judge Paolo Lepri.
