Naples – Twelve years in prison for attempted aggravated murder, four fewer than the prosecution had requested. Thus, with the sentence handed down at the end of the summary trial, the first judicial chapter in one of the darkest youth Camorra feuds of recent years comes to a close. Gennaro De Martino, represented by attorney Emilio Coppola, is on trial: the only adult and, according to the Anti-Mafia Commission, the leader of the Piazza Mercato "paranza."
The Naples Anti-Mafia Directorate, through Deputy Prosecutor Celeste Carrano, initially charged him with the aggravating circumstances of futile motives and mafia-related practices (some of which were rejected at the hearing) and requested a 16-year sentence. The judge also awarded a provisional sentence to the family of fifteen-year-old Emanuele Tufano, who joined the civil action. But behind the cold court documents lies a story of violence, escapes, and tragic mistaken identities.
The escape and the fiery night of 2024
The story begins on October 24, 2024. Gennaro De Martino—the son of a well-known criminal killed in August 2021 during the bloody Ponticelli feud—had recently escaped from the Airola juvenile prison. His escape was brief, but long enough for him to be involved in a violent firefight in the heart of Naples.
On one side, his group, a criminal arm of Piazza Mercato; on the other, the rival faction from the Rione Sanità district, led, according to investigators, by Cristian Scarallo. It was during this night of madness that 15-year-old Emanuele Tufano, linked to the Sanità group and related to the leaders of the Sequino clan, lost his life.
The tragic truth: "friendly fire"
For a long time, it was believed that Tufano had been killed by rivals in Piazza Mercato. However, investigations by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate have overturned the crime scene, revealing a chilling background: the fifteen-year-old was killed by so-called "friendly fire."
Tufano was, in fact, hit by a single, fatal bullet fired by his own faction during a planned stesa (an armed raid intended to intimidate) against De Martino's group. A deflected bullet, or simply misdirected in the heat of the attack, ended the boy's life at the hands of his own comrades.
The scapegoat and the trail of blood
In the ruthless logic of organized crime, such a serious mistake could not go unpunished, much less be admitted before the Sequino clan's leadership. A culprit had to be found. This ruthless pursuit of internal justification resulted, months later, in a new crime. Emanuele Durante, murdered in March 2025, paid the price of "friendly fire." Falsely labeled a traitor to cover up the tragic ballistics error of the Sanità fishing fleet, Durante became the collateral victim of a vendetta built on a lie.
Deepening
Twelve years in prison for Gennaro De Martino, believed to be the leader of the Piazza Mercato "paranza," marks a new chapter in the long history of youth feuds in Naples. The conviction for the shooting that killed fifteen-year-old Emanuele Tufano is not just an isolated incident, but the reflection of a criminal phenomenon rooted in decades of tension, rivalry, and social desperation. Comparing this case with historical youth feuds reveals a complex picture: today's youth gangs are often more organized, but they arise from the same needs and vulnerabilities as ever. Understanding these dynamics is essential to developing effective prevention strategies and restoring hope to neighborhoods scarred by violence. The sentence not only closes a case, but opens a reflection on a problem that affects the entire city.
In short
Naples – Twelve years in prison for attempted aggravated murder, four fewer than the prosecution had requested.
- Thus ends, with the sentence issued at the end of the abbreviated procedure, the first judicial chapter of one of the most…
- Gennaro De Martino, defended by lawyer Emilio Coppola, is on trial: the only adult and, according to the Anti-Mafia authorities, the leader of the Piazza del Popolo gang.
- The Neapolitan DDA, through deputy prosecutor Celeste Carrano, initially also contested the aggravating circumstances of futile motives and…
Key questions
What is the main point of the news?
Naples – Twelve years in prison for attempted aggravated murder, four fewer than the prosecution had requested.
Why is this news relevant?
Thus ends, with the sentence issued at the end of the abbreviated procedure, the first judicial chapter of one of the most…
Which detail helps us understand the case better?
Gennaro De Martino, defended by lawyer Emilio Coppola, is on trial: he is the only adult and, according to the Anti-Mafia Commission, the leader of the Piazza Mercato "paranza."
The story is very sad and complicated, but I don't know what to do. There seem to be too many versions, and the names are getting mixed up; the court gave the suspect 12 years, but the family is also demanding the truth. The boy was fifteen, yet adults make bad choices, with tragic results. Let's hope justice does its job well.
I fully agree with the adjective "horrifying"! And no other adjective is sufficient, considering what we read shortly afterward: that an innocent man like Emanuele, the cousin of poor Annalisa Durante (innocent, at least, in the killing of his namesake), was deliberately sacrificed to cover up the person who committed the mistake of that fatal bullet. Perhaps the same group knows full well who did it, and continues to cover it up with the usual silence, or perhaps no one knows or will ever know, not even the accidental shooter himself.