Judges in Genoa, Italy, are expected to deliver their verdict in a trial over the collapse of a motorway bridge in 2018 that killed 43 people. The collapse of the Morandi bridge during a summer storm shocked Italy and triggered years of investigations into the management and maintenance of its ageing infrastructure.

Background of the Collapse

The disaster also caused a dispute between holding company Atlantia, controlled by the Benetton family, and the then government that ended with the sale of Atlantia’s controlling stake in motorway operator Autostrade per l’Italia. Fifty-seven defendants, including former Atlantia Chief Executive Giovanni Castellucci, managers of Autostrade, engineers from maintenance subsidiary Spea and former transport ministry officials, have been on trial. They have all denied wrongdoing.

For the most serious accusations, Genoa prosecutors sought prison sentences ranging from two years and four months to 18-1/2 years. However, the statute of limitations on many of the lesser charges, such as the forgery of documents, has already passed. Autostrade and sister company Spea exited the criminal proceedings, having reached a financial settlement in 2022.

Apology and Commitment

The current head of Autostrade issued an open letter, restating the company’s commitment to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated. “I wish to apologise to the victims’ families, to the people of Genoa, and to all Italians for the suffering caused by the tragic Morandi disaster, fully aware that our gesture can never erase their pain,” Autostrade CEO Arrigo Giana wrote.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.