Naples – The man believed by investigators to be the killer's "courier" in the Camorra ambush that killed Ottavio Colalongo remains in prison, while the warrant for the alleged instigator has been dropped.
This is the decision of the Naples Court of Review regarding the investigation by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate into the murder that occurred on December 17, 2025, in Scisciano, in the Nola area. According to investigators, the murder occurred amid tensions between rival criminal groups.
The judges confirmed the precautionary prison sentence for Bernardo Cava, 54, nicknamed "Alduccio," believed to be involved in the crime as a "relay runner."
Nicola Luongo's position is different, however. The Court of Appeal overturned the pre-trial detention order issued in recent months for him, accusing him of instigating the murder. Luongo, represented by lawyers Antonio Bucci and Luca Pagliaro, remains detained for other proceedings.
The Scisciano ambush
The crime took place on the afternoon of December 17, 2025 in Scisciano, in the heart of the Nola area.
According to investigators' reconstruction, Ottavio Colalongo was caught and killed in an armed ambush linked to local organized crime. Investigators believe the execution occurred amidst a climate of tension between opposing clans active in the Nola area and the Vesuvius area.
The investigation, coordinated by the Naples District Anti-Mafia Directorate, quickly focused attention on a group of individuals believed to be involved in planning and executing the murder.
The Carabinieri raid and the arrests
On the basis of the evidence gathered by the Carabinieri and the public prosecutor Henry John Woodcock, the magistrates had issued a precautionary custody order against several suspects, believed to be involved in various capacities in the murder.
Among them was Bernardo Cava, identified by investigators as the commando's courier. His role, according to the prosecution, was to accompany the alleged killer Antonio Aloia to the scene of the ambush.
Investigators claim that Cava escorted Aloia by car from Mugnano del Cardinale to the Nolano area, providing cover and logistical support before the execution.
A typical task in the dynamics of Camorra ambushes: the courier is responsible for monitoring the route, reporting any checks, and ensuring the killer's escape.
The decision of the Review
The Court of Appeal deemed the circumstantial evidence against Cava sufficient, thus confirming the precautionary prison sentence for complicity in the murder.
However, the assessment of Nicola Luongo's position was of the opposite nature, with the judges overturning the order regarding his role as alleged instigator.
The decision, however, does not lead to the man's release from prison, as he remains detained for other crimes.
The investigations of the DDA
The Naples DDA investigation continues to probe the criminal context surrounding the Colalongo murder. Investigators believe the crime is linked to the unrest among Camorra groups active in the Nola area, a region historically riven by rivalries and settling scores.
The investigative framework therefore remains open, while investigators continue to reconstruct the chain of responsibility that led to the deadly ambush in December.
It seems to me that the story is very convoluted. The judges have not understood everything, the evidence is scarce and the witnesses still need to be heard. The prosecution has found some clues, but things are confusing and it is not clear who was the instigator or who instead acted as a courier.