Santa Maria Capua Vetere – The trial has begun against bariatric surgeon Stefano Cristiano, accused of negligent injury and manslaughter during surgical procedures conducted at the Villa del Sole Clinic in Caserta.
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The hearing, presided over by Dr. Sergio Enea, promises to be complex, with approximately 50 people including witnesses, consultants and injured parties called to testify.
The charges and the trial
The doctor is accused of negligent injury and false statements against Angela Iannotta, who was operated on in the Caserta clinic, and of manslaughter for the death of Francesco Di Vilio, a 69-year-old Santa Maria Capua Vetere, who also underwent surgery in the same facility.
The testimonies of Iannotta herself and of Salvatore Di Vilio, son of the deceased patient, are particularly awaited and are expected in the next hearing.
The evidence admitted
The Court admitted all the requested evidence:
Public Prosecutor: Dr. Valentina Santoro, who directed the investigation and obtained the indictment.
Civil party: represented by lawyers Gaetano and Raffaele Crisileo, who assist both Angela Iannotta and the heirs of Francesco Di Vilio.
Civil liability: Clinica Villa del Sole, defended by the lawyer Ferdinando Trasacco.
Consumer Association “Codici”, with the lawyer Giuseppe Ambrosio.
Defense of the accused: entrusted to the lawyer Massimo Damiani.
A judicial past already marked
This is not the first time that Dr. Cristiano has been at the center of an investigation. Recently, the Court of Nola sentenced the doctor to 2 years in prison for manslaughter in relation to the death of Raffaele Arcella, a 29-year-old from Caivano, who died in 2019 after gastric bypass surgery at the Trusso Clinic in Ottaviano.
In that case, the Public Prosecutor had requested a 4-year sentence, believing that the defendant had caused a serious arterial injury that led to the young man's death.
A complex and expected process
With numerous witnesses and a complex investigation, the proceedings are expected to be long and delicate. The surgeon's defense will try to dismantle the accusations, while the civil party aims to obtain justice for the victims and their families. The case remains under the spotlight, with the next hearings and possible judicial developments awaited.
Article published on March 29, 2025 - 10pm
The trial against the surgeon Stefano Cristiano is of great importance for the community. It is essential that justice is done and that the evidence is carefully evaluated. The testimonies could clarify many aspects of the case.