Italy: 32 convictions in the Morandi Bridge trial

The former head of Autostrade per l'Italia received the harshest sentence. The initial verdict remains subject to appeal.

The Genoa court sentenced thirty-two people on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the trial concerning the collapse of the Morandi Bridge. The sentences handed down in the first instance totaled twelve years in prison.

The motorway viaduct collapsed on August 14, 2018, during torrential rain. Forty-three people lost their lives, including four French citizens. The verdict comes nearly eight years after the disaster.

Twelve years in prison for Giovanni Castellucci

Giovanni Castellucci, former head of Autostrade per l'Italia and its parent company Atlantia, received the harshest sentence. The court sentenced him to twelve years in prison. The prosecution had requested eighteen years and six months.

Michele Donferri Mitelli, former head of maintenance at Autostrade per l'Italia, was sentenced to eleven years. Paolo Berti and Antonino Galatà each received sentences of five years and six months, while Mauro Coletta was sentenced to five years, according to the BBC.

In total, the thirty-two convictions represent 177 years of prison sentences, according to the Italian news agency AGI. Twenty-five other defendants were acquitted or benefited from the statute of limitations on some of the charges.

A trial focused on the maintenance of the viaduct

The trial was to determine whether those responsible for the highway network were aware of the bridge's deteriorating condition and whether they had taken sufficient action to prevent the danger. Prosecutors argued that structural problems had been neglected for years.

The defense contested this interpretation. They cited design flaws in the viaduct, built in the 1960s, and requested the acquittal of the defendants. The judges upheld the criminal liability of several former managers, executives, and technicians.

Autostrade per l'Italia and the engineering firm Spea had reached a financial agreement before the verdict. They thus withdrew from the criminal proceedings while paying compensation, without admitting liability.

Over 280 audiences since 2022

The trial opened on July 7, 2022. More than 280 hearings were held. Judges heard from 282 witnesses and four experts, according to AGI. Dozens of victims' families and civil parties followed the proceedings.

The victims' families welcomed the convictions with relief, while acknowledging that the verdict does not erase their pain. Some also expressed regret over the acquittals and the sentences that were lower than those requested by the prosecution.

The mayor of Genoa, Silvia Salis, stated that the city had finally received an initial response from the justice system. She emphasized that the trial had highlighted serious responsibilities in the management and maintenance of the bridge.

The verdict can still be appealed

The convictions were handed down at the initial trial. The defendants' lawyers can appeal. The case could therefore proceed through further legal stages before a final decision is reached.

The Morandi Bridge connected several important routes around Genoa. Its collapse cut the city in two and caused the evacuation of hundreds of residents living under the viaduct.

A new bridge, named San Giorgio, was inaugurated in August 2020. The rapid reconstruction of the structure contrasted sharply with the slow pace of the investigation and trial. For the families, the verdict of July 16 marks a major legal milestone, but not yet the end of the case.