IT IS OVER

Dear friends,

It is finally over, and I honestly think that it went much better than expected. Real sentences have been issued for the first time in decades: of the 11 defendants, one (Gasparini) was rightly acquitted; 8 of the remaining 10 were convicted; and two high level managers of government-run agencies were deemed responsible.
The bitterest blow was that Federico and Fusco, the two ENAC executives in charge of airport safety, were fully acquitted (this is another one of Italy’s mysteries).
And what about the justice system? We had hoped that at least once, in the presence of such a huge tragedy with identified culprits, justice would have been done. Instead, the Court of Cassation, which is at the highest level, confirmed the greatly criticized and shameful appeals sentence. (Did they not read the appeals documents? Did they not take into consideration the responsibilities, especially Fusco’s?)
The pardon granted meant that the guilty parties were not sentenced to do socially useful work and learn a lesson. This, unfortunately, is what happens in Italy.
Many of the family members of the victims were in Rome: once again, we gathered together, hand in hand, to get through the last difficult and extremely painful step.
We saw them with our own eyes: the smiling lawyers and the defendants snoozing while the report was read (Federico practically slept through it all). Their behavior transpired tranquility: perhaps, who knows how, they knew they were safe.
I want to point out that Mr. Mazzocca was the most dignified and respectful person towards us. He resigned from ENAV immediately after the accident, and now he is unemployed. He respectfully and discreetly came over and spoke to us. I sensed his profound respect and the deep sorrow that he felt for us.
The farce is therefore over, and the sentences are listed below.
We received countless messages of solidarity and support from all over Italy. Many, especially legal professionals, expressed great indignation for the bizarre acquittal.
All that remains for us now is to live with the memory of our loved ones and a desire to continue our battle so that no one ever finds himself in a situation like ours.
During the trials in Milan and Rome, the defendants and their lawyers ignored the fact that we are still suffering. We would have at least appreciated seeing them acknowledge our presence when their gazes met ours, if only for the sake of decency.
No one in this cursed trial ever used a “weapon”.
The victims died due to a series of unexplainable ‘coincidences’.
None of the defendants woke up that morning with a desire to kill someone.
Some of us, before God, have already forgiven them.
Illustrious lawyers, especially when they are wearing their robes, should never fail to show a bit of humility towards others!
To get through life, one must nurture dreams and illusions, and sometimes lie to oneself.
My love to you all.

Paolo

COURT OF CASSATION VERDICT: February 20, 2008

SANDRO GUALANO: 6 years and 6 months
PAOLO ZACCHETTI: 3 years
FRANCESCO FEDERICO: acquitted
VINCENZO FUSCO: acquitted
FABIO MARZOCCA: 4 years and 4 months
SANTINO CIARNIELLO: 2 years and 8 months (plea bargain)
SANDRO GASPARINI: acquitted
NAZARENO PATRIZI: 3 years (plea bargain)
RAFFAELE PERRONE: 3 years (plea bargain)
ANTONIO CAVANNA: 3 years
LORENZO GRECCHI: 3 years

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