Mariano Riccio, the secessionist boss and alleged instigator of the double murder of Ciro Abrunzo ("or Chinese") and Franco Gaiola, which occurred in Barra in 2012, faces life imprisonment. The request was made by prosecutor Maurizio De Marco of the Naples Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA), following his closing arguments in the trial involving, in addition to Riccio, the alleged perpetrators Francesco Paolo Russo and Franco Bottino.
Riccio, in an attempt to access restorative justice, had dissociated himself from the facts and had asked for forgiveness from the families of the victims. His request, however, was rejected by the investigating judge Marrone.
The murder of Abrunzo and Gaiola—as Il Roma reports—was one of the bloodiest episodes of the third Scampia feud. To carry it out, Riccio devised a unique plan: the killers disguised themselves as Asìa operatives to avoid arousing suspicion. On June 21, 2012, Russo and Bottino, aboard a fake Asìa van, reached Abrunzo and Gaiola in Barra and shot them to death.
The investigations, coordinated by the DDA of Napoli and conducted by the Naples Flying Squad, led to the arrest of Riccio, Russo and Bottino in 2022.
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The trial is underway before preliminary hearing judge Nicola Marrone, who will issue a verdict on April 29. Riccio, Francesco Paolo Russo, known as "Cicciariello," and Franco Bottino deny all charges, but a dramatic turn of events is not out of the question.
In addition to life sentences for the three defendants, the prosecutor's office also requested compensation for damages from the civil parties.
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