Italy sentences 32 for 2018 Genoa bridge collapse that killed 43

A court in Genoa has sentenced 32 people to prison terms totaling nearly 200 years for the collapse of the Morandi bridge in 2018, which killed 43 people. The highest sentence—12 years—was handed to Giovanni Castellucci, the former CEO of Autostrade per l'Italia (ASPI), the company that operated the bridge. Source: El Mundo

The verdict

Castellucci received 12 years, though prosecutors had sought 18.5. Source: El Mundo Other key sentences: Michele Donferri (maintenance chief) 11 years, Paolo Berti (operations director) and Antonino Galatà (SPEA CEO) 5.5 years, Mauro Coletta (ministry official) 5 years. Source: Infobae In total, 32 of 57 defendants were convicted; 25 were acquitted or had charges dropped due to statute of limitations. Source: El País

The controversy

Prosecution argued that years of deferred maintenance, ignored warnings, and cost-cutting led to the collapse. Source: CNN The defense contends the disaster was caused by a hidden design defect in the bridge's cables, impossible to detect. Source: CNN Families of victims expressed mixed feelings; Egle Possetti, president of the victims' committee, said "12 years? I'd say it's fine for Castellucci." Source: El Mundo However, Castellucci's lawyer Carlo Alleva called the sentence "deeply erroneous" and plans to appeal. Source: El Mundo