Genoa Bridge Collapse: Former Top Manager Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

A former top executive of the Autostrade per l'Italia highway company has been sentenced to 12 years in prison following the catastrophic collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa in August 2018. The devastating incident claimed the lives of 43 people when a section of the vital infrastructure gave way, sending vehicles plummeting 40 meters to the ground.

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The former top manager of the highway company Autostrade per l'Italia, Giovanni Castellucci, was found guilty.

The court in Genoa found Giovanni Castellucci, a former top manager at the company responsible for the bridge's maintenance, guilty. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 18 years and 6 months for Castellucci, who is already serving time in prison for his involvement in a separate fatal bus accident. The trial involved more than 50 defendants.

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The Public Prosecutor's Office had demanded 18 years and 6 months imprisonment for the main defendant.

Investigations revealed that the Morandi Bridge, which opened in 1967, suffered from severe structural damage due to inadequate or neglected maintenance. Experts determined that these deficiencies were the cause of the sudden collapse. Evidence presented in court suggested that Castellucci was aware of the bridge's defects as early as 2009.

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The 66-year-old is already in prison for a fatal bus accident on another highway.

The conviction marks a significant legal outcome for the families of the victims and brings a measure of accountability for the tragedy. The collapse highlighted critical issues regarding infrastructure maintenance and corporate responsibility in Italy.

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The Morandi Bridge... suddenly collapsed.