Mariano Riccio, secessionist boss and presumed instigator of the double homicide of Ciro Abrunzo (“or Chinese”) and Franco Gaiola, which occurred in Barra in 2012, riskslife sentenceThe request was made by the PM Maurizio De Marco of the DDA of Napoli, at the end of the prosecution's closing speech in the trial which sees, in addition to Riccio, also the alleged material perpetrators Francesco Paolo Russo and Franco Bottino as defendants.
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 recalls – was one of the bloodiest episodes of the third feud of Scampia. To carry it out, Riccio devised a singular plan: the killers disguised themselves as Asìa operators so as not to arouse suspicion. On June 21, 2012, Russo and Bottino, aboard a fake Asìa van, reached Abrunzo and Gaiola in Barra and killed them with gunshots.
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. The investigation was based on the statements of 11 informants and on old and new investigations.
The trial is underway before the preliminary hearing judge Nicola Marrone, who will issue the sentence on April 29. Riccio, Francesco Paolo Russo, known as “Cicciariello,” and Franco Bottino deny all charges, but a dramatic turn of events is not excluded.
In addition to life imprisonment for the three defendants, the prosecution also requested compensation for damages from the civil parties.
Article published on 16 April 2024 - 07:39
