Italy: 32 responsible for the Genoa bridge convicted for its deadly collapse in 2018

The Court of the Italian city of Genoa (northwest) handed down this Thursday the first sentence for the tragic Morandi bridge collapse in 2018, in which 43 people died, and has convicted a total of 32 people responsible for its management and maintenance.

The reading of the sentence was heard at the hearing by the relatives of the victims, accompanied by the current mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis.

The trial began on July 7, 2022 and has consisted of 284 hearings. The Genoa Prosecutor’s Office has requested sentences totaling almost 400 years in prison for 56 of the accused and the acquittal of one of them.

Prosecutors believe everyone bears some degree of responsibility. in it collapse since, according to the accusation, the structural problems of the bridge and the need to carry out maintenance works, repeatedly postponed, had been known for years.

The accused have had to answer for the crimes of multiple homicide, manslaughter, guilty collapsebreach of official duties, attack on transport security, document falsification and willful omission of safety measures at work.

On the eve of the ruling, Autostrade per l’Italia, whose management leadership has been completely renewed since the tragedysent a letter of apology signed by its current CEO, Arrigo Giana.

Motorways for Italy and SPEA have paid during these years close to 60 million of euros in compensation to the families of the victims.