Genoa bridge disaster: Former motorway chief sentenced to 12 years
Giovanni Castellucci and Michele Donferri Mitelli receive prison terms as victims’ families express mixed reactions to the outcome of the long-running inquiry.
A Genoa court has handed down prison sentences to two former senior officials of Autostrade per l'Italia for their roles in the 2018 collapse of the Morandi bridge, which resulted in 43 deaths. Giovanni Castellucci, the former head of the state-controlled motorway operator, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Michele Donferri Mitelli, another top official, received an 11-year term.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Paolo Lepri in a Genoa court, concluding a trial that involved a total of 57 defendants. The sentencing marks a significant development in the legal aftermath of the disaster, which occurred during a rainstorm in August 2018 at the height of the holiday season, causing vehicles to plummet to the ground below.
Castellucci, who is currently serving a separate six-year sentence for his involvement in a 2013 road disaster, had faced calls for a significantly longer prison term from prosecutors. The source material notes that prosecutors had requested a far longer jail term for the ex-Autostrade per l'Italia chief than the 12 years ultimately imposed.
Reactions from the families of the victims were varied. Emmanuel Diaz, whose brother Henry died in the collapse, told Italian TV he was "very satisfied" with the verdict. Meanwhile, Egle Possetti, whose sister and her family were killed, described the 12-year term handed to Castellucci as "acceptable".
The case highlights the ongoing scrutiny of infrastructure governance and safety protocols in Italy. As the trial involved dozens of defendants, the specific sentencing for all parties remains a focal point of the legal proceedings, with the court aiming to address the systemic failures that led to the tragedy.
