In brief
Italian prosecutors secured the first criminal judgments in the long‑running case over Genovese motorway bridge collapse, sentencing former chief executive Giovanni Castellucci to 12 years and other senior officials to up to 11 years. The verdicts are welcomed by families and may signify the state finally taking responsibility. Though some defendants cross‑appeal, the court laid the groundwork for further proceedings. The new San Giorgio viaduct stands today as a tribute to the victims and a reminder of the importance of maintenance and design.
In a landmark ruling, Italian prosecutors delivered the first verdict in the case over Genoa's Morandi bridge collapse that killed 43 people. Giovanni Castellucci – former chief executive of the motorway operator Autostrade per l'Italia (Aspi) – received a 12‑year prison sentence. He is already serving a six‑year term for a separate 2013 road disaster.
Another senior Aspi official, Michele Donferri Mitelli, was handed 11 years, and the former CHF of the transport ministry, Paolo Berti, received five‑and‑a‑half years. The verdicts are part of a broader judgment that saw 32 executives found guilty, while 25 were acquitted or cleared under the statute of limitations.
Families of the victims reacted strongly. “Finally, a first step has been taken toward establishing responsibility for the collapse of the Morandi bridge – it is a moment owed by the state,” said Mayor Silvia Salis. A television interview of Emmanuel Diaz, whose brother died, showed him saying he was “very satisfied” with the outcome.
The trial, which spanned almost four years of investigation and another four years in court, involved 57 defendants including engineers from the maintenance firm Spea and former Atlantia executives. The court ruled that the failure to maintain the ageing structure and ignore warning signs constituted manslaughter and negligence.
Despite the grave sentences, the courtroom opinion also warned that appeals could extend the legal process further. In 2019 the damaged bridge was demolished and the San Giorgio viaduct – designed by Renzo Piano – opened in 2021, symbolizing a next chapter in the city’s history.
