In brief
In a landmark ruling over the 2018 collapse of Genoa’s Morandi bridge, officials are slammed with prison terms – a 12‑year sentence for an ex‑chief executive and an 11‑year term for another senior officer. The court delivered convictions to 32 defendants while acquitting 25 under a statute of limitations. Victims’ families expressed relief and accepted the verdict, while the state’s apology mourns the tragedy. The new San Giorgio bridge stands as a replacement, and further appeals will extend the legal saga.
Italian Court Delivers Sentences for Genoa Bridge Crash Victims
The collapse of Genoa’s Morandi bridge in August 2018 killed 43 people and brought cars and lorries to ruin. A court in Genoa has now handed down prison terms for senior state and motorway officials involved in the incident.
Giovanni Castellucci, former chief executive of the motorway operator Autostrade per l'Italia, received a 12‑year sentence. Another senior official, Michele Donferri Mitelli, was condemned to 11 years in jail.
Paolo Berti, former number‑two at the motorway operator, and Antonino Galatà, ex‑chief executive of the maintenance firm Spea, were each sentenced to five and a half years. Mauro Coletta, a top official in the ministry’s motorway directorate, also received a five‑year term.
Out of the 57 defendants in the case, 32 were found guilty while 25 were cleared or acquitted because the actions fell under a statute of limitations.
Prosecutors had originally asked for a collective 400‑year jail term on accusations of manslaughter and neglect of maintenance. The court chose a more measured approach while still vowing that the government will take responsibility.
Families of victims expressed a mixture of relief and grief. Emmanuel Diaz, whose brother died in the collapse, said he was “satisfied” with the verdict, while Egle Possetti, who lost her sister and mother, added that the 12‑year term was “acceptable.”
Experts have debated the failure of maintenance and the alleged design flaw in the bridge’s structure. The defence lawyers cited the concrete‑encased cable as a factor. The trial spanned eight years and more than two hundred eighty hearings.
Following the verdict, leading motorway operator head Arrigo Giana issued the company’s first public apology, acknowledging that certain decisions left lasting scars and vowing to monitor the network more closely.
In the aftermath, the old bridge was demolished, and the new San Giorgio bridge, designed by Renzo Piano, opened in 2028. The viaduct now features sail‑like pillars, echoing Genoa’s maritime heritage.
Genoa's mayor, Silvia Salis, remarked that the courthouse “has made history by bringing accountability.” Appeals remain pending, suggesting the legal process may continue for several years.
