A court in Genoa has sentenced Giovanni Castellucci, the former chief executive of Italy's motorway operator, to 12 years in prison over the 2018 collapse of the Morandi Bridge, which killed 43 people.
Key facts
- Giovanni Castellucci, former CEO of Autostrade per l'Italia, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
- His was the highest sentence handed down in the case.
- A total of 32 people were convicted over the disaster.
- 25 people were acquitted or cleared by statute of limitations.
- The 2018 Morandi Bridge collapse in Genoa killed 43 people.
A court in the north-western Italian city of Genoa has convicted 32 people over the 2018 collapse of the Morandi Bridge, a disaster that killed 43 people, according to the Guardian.
Among those convicted was Giovanni Castellucci, the former chief executive of Italy’s motorway operator Autostrade per l’Italia. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison, the highest sentence in the case, the Guardian reported.
Sky News reported that Castellucci was sentenced for his role in the bridge collapse that claimed 43 lives, describing him as the former head of Italy’s motorway operator.
The verdicts were delivered in what the Guardian described as a hushed courtroom on Thursday. Al Jazeera reported that alongside the 32 convictions, 25 people were either acquitted or cleared by the statute of limitations over the 2018 disaster.
Al Jazeera also confirmed the sentence, noting that the former CEO of Italy’s main highway operator had been given 12 years in prison.
The Morandi Bridge, a major structure in Genoa, collapsed in 2018, becoming one of Italy’s most significant infrastructure tragedies in recent years.
Why it matters
The collapse of the Morandi Bridge was one of Italy's deadliest infrastructure failures in recent memory, and the verdict marks a major moment of accountability for the families of the 43 victims. The sentencing of a top motorway executive raises broader questions about corporate responsibility for public safety and infrastructure maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Giovanni Castellucci?
He is the former chief executive of Autostrade per l'Italia, Italy's motorway operator. He received a 12-year prison sentence, the highest in the case over the Genoa bridge collapse.
How many people died in the Morandi Bridge collapse?
According to the sources, 43 people were killed when the bridge collapsed in Genoa in 2018.
How many people were convicted and how many were cleared?
Al Jazeera reported that 32 people were convicted, while 25 were acquitted or cleared by the statute of limitations.