Italy | Liguria: Court sentences former motorway chief over the 2018 Morandi bridge collapse that killed 43 people, marking a major step toward accountability
An Italian court has sentenced former motorway operator chief Giovanni Castellucci to 12 years in prison over the catastrophic collapse of Genoa’s Morandi bridge in 2018, a disaster that claimed 43 lives and shocked the country. The ruling represents one of the most significant legal developments since the tragedy and marks a major milestone in the lengthy judicial process.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Paolo Lepri following years of investigations and court proceedings that examined the causes of one of Italy’s worst infrastructure disasters in recent history. Castellucci, the former chief executive of Autostrade per l’Italia (Aspi), was among 57 defendants accused of responsibility for the bridge collapse.
Prosecutors had sought a much longer prison sentence for Castellucci, arguing that failures in maintenance and oversight contributed directly to the disaster. Instead, the court imposed a 12-year sentence, while several other executives and officials also received prison terms.
Another senior motorway executive, Michele Donferri Mitelli, was sentenced to 11 years behind bars. Former Aspi executive Paolo Berti received a prison term of five and a half years, considerably lower than the sentence requested by prosecutors.
Overall, the court found 32 defendants guilty, while 25 others were either acquitted or cleared because the alleged offences fell outside the legal time limits for prosecution.
The Morandi bridge collapsed on August 14, 2018, during heavy rainfall at the height of Italy’s summer holiday season. A large section of the motorway viaduct suddenly gave way, sending dozens of cars and heavy trucks plunging nearly 45 metres to the ground below.
The collapse instantly became one of Europe’s deadliest bridge failures in decades. Rescue workers searched through mountains of twisted concrete and steel for survivors, while grieving families struggled to come to terms with the devastating loss of loved ones.
The bridge, officially opened in 1967, had been designed by renowned Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi. Over time, experts raised concerns about the ageing structure and its reinforced concrete support system, prompting discussions about long-term maintenance requirements.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that maintenance work on the bridge had repeatedly been postponed despite warning signs indicating serious structural deterioration. They claimed that responsible officials ignored engineering reports and delayed necessary repairs, allowing the bridge’s condition to worsen over the years.
Defence lawyers rejected those accusations, maintaining that the collapse resulted primarily from flaws in the original bridge design rather than negligence by motorway operators. They argued that one of the bridge’s critical support cables, enclosed within concrete, made inspections and assessments significantly more difficult.
Throughout the proceedings, every defendant denied criminal wrongdoing. The trial itself became one of Italy’s largest and most complex legal cases involving infrastructure safety. Investigators spent almost four years gathering evidence before formal proceedings began, and the courtroom heard testimony across more than 280 hearings over another four years.
Among those convicted were engineers from Aspi’s maintenance company, Spea, as well as former officials from Italy’s transport ministry and executives connected with Atlantia, the motorway operator’s former parent company.
Former Spea chief executive Antonino Galatà received a prison sentence of five and a half years. Mauro Coletta, previously responsible for Italy’s motorway directorate within the transport ministry, was sentenced to five years in prison.
For families who lost relatives in the collapse, Thursday’s ruling brought a measure of relief after nearly eight years of waiting.
Emmanuel Diaz, whose brother Henry died in the disaster, described himself as satisfied with the court’s decision. Meanwhile, Egle Possetti, who lost her sister, brother-in-law and two young nephews, called Castellucci’s sentence acceptable and viewed the ruling as an important first step toward justice.
Possetti, who now leads the Morandi bridge victims’ memorial committee, said the verdict opened “a ray of light” after years of legal uncertainty.
Castellucci was not present in court when the judgment was delivered. His lawyer criticised the ruling as fundamentally flawed and confirmed that the former executive would appeal, continuing to argue his innocence throughout the next stages of the judicial process.
Appeals are widely expected and could extend the case for several more years before a final legal conclusion is reached. The emotional impact of the tragedy remains deeply felt across Genoa.
Current Genoa Mayor Silvia Salis attended the court hearing and described the ruling as carrying immense historical and emotional significance. She said the decision represented an important first step toward determining responsibility for a disaster that permanently changed the city.
Salis also acknowledged the years of suffering endured by victims’ families, saying they had waited since the tragic events of August 14, 2018, for the state to establish accountability.
Just before the verdicts were announced, current Aspi chief executive Arrigo Giana issued the company’s first formal public apology for the collapse. He acknowledged that decisions made by previous managers had left lasting scars and insisted that today’s motorway operator operates under a completely different management structure.
According to Giana, new leadership has strengthened monitoring systems, increased inspections and implemented long-term infrastructure planning designed to eliminate similar risks across Italy’s motorway network. However, not everyone accepted the apology.
Cesare Cerulli, who was only ten years old when his father Andrea died in the collapse, dismissed the company’s statement as “crocodile tears.” Now 18, he criticised the apology as lacking sincerity and humanity, arguing that no public statement could erase the suffering experienced by the victims’ families.
Following the disaster, Italian authorities demolished the remaining sections of the damaged Morandi bridge in early 2019.
Construction of a replacement bridge proceeded at remarkable speed. The new San Giorgio Bridge, designed by internationally acclaimed Genoa-born architect Renzo Piano, officially opened in 2020, just two years after the collapse.
Its elegant design features sail-shaped pillars inspired by Genoa’s rich maritime heritage, symbolising both remembrance and renewal for a city that endured unimaginable tragedy.
Although the new bridge restored an essential transport connection, the legal proceedings have remained central to public debate about infrastructure safety, government oversight and corporate responsibility in Italy.
The court’s verdict now stands as the first major judicial reckoning for the Morandi bridge disaster. While appeals may continue for years, the ruling sends a powerful message regarding accountability in the management of critical public infrastructure.
For the families of the 43 victims, the decision cannot undo their loss. Yet after years of investigations, hearings and uncertainty, many believe the judgment represents an important step toward justice and a reminder of the consequences when vital infrastructure is not adequately safeguarded.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members