Prison Sentences for Italian Officials After Morandi Bridge Tragedy That Killed 43

A Genoa court has found former Autostrade per l’Italia (Aspi) chief executive Giovanni Castellucci guilty, sentencing him to 12 years in prison for his responsibility in the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in August 2018. Forty-three people died in the disaster, and relatives of the victims reacted emotionally to the ruling, embracing after the sentences were announced.

The tragedy occurred on August 14, 2018, amid a rainstorm and at the peak of the tourist season. A section of the Morandi viaduct suddenly collapsed, sending dozens of cars and trucks plunging from a height. The death toll was 43.

Castellucci was among 57 people charged in the case. Prosecutors had sought a harsher sentence, but the court handed down a 12-year term. Michele Donferri Mitelli, a former senior company official, was sentenced to 11 years in prison, while Paolo Berti, Castellucci’s former deputy, received five and a half years in prison.

Antonino Galatà, former chief executive of maintenance company Spea, was also sentenced to five and a half years in prison. Meanwhile, Mauro Coletta, a former senior Transport Ministry official responsible for motorway oversight, was sentenced to five years in prison.

According to prosecutors, the bridge collapse was the result of a persistent lack of maintenance and the disregard of warning signs pointing to structural problems. The defense, on the other hand, argued that the cause should be sought in flaws in the original design and in the construction of the bridge’s supporting cables.

The victims’ relatives welcomed the court’s decision. Emmanuel Diaz, who lost his brother in the disaster, said he was “very satisfied” with the sentences. Egle Possetti, who lost several family members, described Castellucci’s 12-year sentence as “acceptable.”

Shortly before the verdict was announced, Aspi’s current chief executive, Arrigo Giana, publicly apologized on behalf of the company. He acknowledged that “the actions and decisions of some people left indelible wounds.” However, some relatives viewed the apology as late and insincere. Cesare Cerulli, who lost his father in the tragedy, called it “crocodile tears,” accusing company executives of lacking responsibility and sensitivity.