Advertisement
What really powers the cloud? Behind every Google search, A...
A lot of what defines a home isn’t visible at handover. I...
Private equity has played a significant role in shaping Indi...
Luxury real estate is one of the most talked-about segments ...
Airports play a much bigger role than just enabling travel -...
A court in Genoa is expected to deliver its verdict in the long-running criminal trial over the collapse of the Morandi motorway bridge in 2018, a disaster that claimed 43 lives and exposed concerns over Italy's ageing transport infrastructure. The proceedings involve 57 defendants, including former executives of motorway operator Autostrade per l'Italia, engineers, and former transport ministry officials, all of whom have denied wrongdoing. Prosecutors have sought prison terms of up to 18-and-a-half years for the most serious charges. The case has become a symbol of accountability for infrastructure failures and the pace of Italy's criminal justice system. Autostrade has apologised for the tragedy and reiterated its commitment to preventing a similar incident in the future.
A court in Genoa is expected to deliver its verdict on Thursday in the criminal trial arising from the collapse of the Morandi motorway bridge in 2018, a disaster that killed 43 people and prompted widespread scrutiny of Italy's ageing infrastructure and its maintenance practices.
The collapse occurred during a summer storm on the eve of a national holiday, sending vehicles plunging from the bridge and triggering one of Italy's deadliest infrastructure disasters in recent decades. The incident led to extensive investigations into the management and maintenance of the bridge, while also raising broader concerns about the condition of the country's transport infrastructure.
The trial involves 57 defendants, including former Atlantia Chief Executive Giovanni Castellucci, managers of motorway operator Autostrade per l'Italia, engineers from maintenance subsidiary Spea, and former officials from Italy's transport ministry. All the defendants have denied any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors have sought prison sentences ranging from two years and four months to 18-and-a-half years for the most serious offences. However, several lesser charges, including allegations relating to document forgery, can no longer be prosecuted after the applicable statute of limitations expired.
The bridge collapse also had significant corporate implications. The disaster triggered a dispute between Atlantia, then controlled by the Benetton family, and the Italian government, eventually leading to the sale of Atlantia's controlling stake in Autostrade per l'Italia.
Autostrade and its maintenance subsidiary Spea are no longer part of the criminal proceedings after reaching a financial settlement in 2022. The settlement resolved the companies' criminal liability, although the trial against individual defendants has continued.
Ahead of the verdict, Autostrade Chief Executive Arrigo Giana issued an open letter apologising to the families of the victims, the people of Genoa and the wider Italian public for the suffering caused by the tragedy. He said the company remained committed to ensuring that such a disaster is never repeated, while acknowledging that no apology could erase the pain experienced by those affected.
Relatives of the victims are expected to attend the court hearing as judges deliver a decision in a case that has become a test of accountability for one of Italy's worst infrastructure failures. The proceedings have also highlighted the lengthy duration of complex criminal trials in Italy, with nearly eight years having passed since the collapse before the court reached its verdict.
Source: Reuters
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
