An Italian court has handed down prison sentences to former officials of Autostrade per l'Italia (Aspi) in connection with the 2018 collapse of the Morandi bridge in Genoa. The disaster, which occurred during a severe rainstorm, claimed the lives of 43 people as vehicles fell from the structure.

Giovanni Castellucci, the former chief executive of the motorway operator, received a 12-year prison sentence. Michele Donferri Mitelli, another senior official, was sentenced to 11 years. The court found 32 individuals guilty, while 25 others were either acquitted or saw their charges dismissed due to the statute of limitations. Other notable sentences included five-and-a-half-year terms for former Aspi executive Paolo Berti and former Spea chief executive Antonino Galatà, as well as a five-year term for former transport ministry official Mauro Coletta.

The trial, which followed a four-year investigation and spanned over 280 hearings, centered on allegations of manslaughter and failures in maintaining the 1967 viaduct. While prosecutors contended that maintenance was neglected and warning signs were disregarded, defense teams argued that the collapse was primarily caused by inherent design flaws, specifically regarding the encasement of cables in concrete.

The verdict drew mixed reactions from the families of the victims. Egle Possetti, who leads the victims' memorial committee, described the outcome as a "ray of light," while others remained critical of the company's previous conduct. Lawyers for Castellucci have indicated they intend to appeal the decision, characterizing the ruling as "profoundly flawed."

The original bridge was demolished in 2019 and replaced by the San Giorgio bridge, designed by architect Renzo Piano, which opened in 2020. Further legal proceedings are expected as the case moves through the appeals process.

Source: BBC News