Naples – Courtroom 215 of the Naples Courthouse, on the second floor of the Palace of Justice, was packed yesterday morning, as it is for high-profile hearings. In the front row, next to the two prosecutors from the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, sat Naples Prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, who attended in person to cover one of the hearings in the trial of the Moccia clan, one of the historic Camorra organizations in the northern part of the province.
A complex and tense trial, being held before the Seventh Criminal Section, involves over forty defendants accused, to varying degrees, of mafia-style association, extortion, usury, and drug trafficking.
The acceleration of the calendar and the protest of criminal lawyers
After the summer recess, the trial resumed at a rapid pace: three or four hearings a week and up to thirty witnesses examined per day, a speeding up required by the Prosecutor's Office to avoid the risk of statutes of limitations and further releases.
This choice, however, has sparked strong controversy among defense lawyers.
The Naples Criminal Court, in fact, has denounced a restriction on the rights of the defense, deeming the pace imposed on the hearings excessive, and has announced a four-day suspension from hearings, from October 14th to 17th, to protest what it calls an "emergency trial management" incompatible with the principles of due process.
The July releases and the issue of the terms
The proceedings, which began in 2022, had already reached a critical point last July, when fifteen alleged leading members of the Moccia clan were released from prison due to the expiration of their pre-trial detention terms.
This was a serious blow for the prosecution, which immediately appealed to the Court of Review, which was later rejected last September, confirming the freedom of the suspects.
The releases had fueled controversy and concern in investigative circles, with fears that the prolonged duration of the trial could compromise years of investigations and anti-mafia activity.
Gratteri in court: "Mafia trials must go forward."
The presence of Nicola Gratteri in the classroom it was not just symbolic.
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"Mafia trials cannot be stopped or slowed down," he reportedly told those present informally. "Justice must be able to guarantee clear deadlines and clear answers, even for those who have been waiting years for a trial."
This position has found support among the prosecution, but it has further exacerbated the rift with the defense. Many criminal lawyers, in fact, denounce the risk that speeding up the hearings could result in a violation of the right to a fair hearing: with dozens of witnesses heard every day and limited time for cross-examination, lawyers describe the process as "unworkable."
A maxi-trial amidst tensions and illustrious precedents
The trial of the Moccia clan, born from a vast investigation by the Naples District Anti-Mafia Office, has brought one of the historic Camorra families back into the spotlight.
Originally from Afragola, the Moccia group has been considered for decades a model of "entrepreneurial" Camorra, capable of infiltrating the economic and political fabric of Campania through companies, contracts, and real estate investments.
Over the years, numerous trials have affected the various branches of the clan, but the one currently underway represents one of the largest, with hundreds of charges and dozens of civil plaintiffs.
The sheer volume of documents, testimonies, and wiretaps inevitably complicates the management of trial times, a factor that has fueled the national debate on the slow pace of major mafia trials.
The point of equilibrium is still far away
The tension between the need for speed and the right to defense seems destined to continue.
On the one hand, the Prosecutor's Office claims the need for expedited action to avoid wasting investigative efforts; on the other, the Criminal Chamber calls for compliance with technical deadlines and constitutional guarantees.
Meanwhile, the Moccia clan trial continues amid controversy, postponements, and announced strikes, becoming a prime example of the delicate balance between judicial efficiency and the protection of human rights in Italy.
Comments (1)
The Moccia clan trial appears to be fraught with complications. The haste of the hearings could jeopardize the defense's rights, but on the other hand, it's important that justice be conducted without delay. A balance must be found.