Custody terms expired: boss Messina Denaro's men free

Reduced sentences on appeal and a raft of releases due to expiry of custodial terms for some loyalists of the mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro who, in the coming hours, will be set free.

This was decided by the Court of Appeal of Palermo, which, on the recommendation of the Court of Cassation and due to the disappearance of the aggravating circumstance of the economic reuse of the proceeds of mafia activity, was called upon to review the sentences for a series of Trapani mafia leaders and associates.

The sentence reductions concerned, among others, Nicola Accardo, Partanna's boss detained at 41 bis, who went from 15 to 10 years and defended by lawyer Gianni Caracci; Calogero Guarino, defended by lawyer Enrico Tignini, who went from 11 at first instance to 8 years on appeal. Giuseppe Tilotta was sentenced to 8 years (he had been given 11 years and 4 months), and Vincenzo La Cascia, head of the Campobello di Mazara clan, the town where Messina Denaro was hiding, was sentenced to 9 years and 8 months, also in hard prison. Eleven years and 2 months was the sentence imposed on boss Raffaele Urso, also from Campobello di Mazara, (he had been given 18 years and 4 months). Andrea Valenti, a relative of boss Bonafede, went from eight years to seven years and six months, while Filippo dell'Aquila went from 12 years at first instance to eight years and eight months and Angelo Greco (defended by lawyer Massimiliano Miceli) from eight to six years at appeal. Eight years was the sentence decided for Antonino Triolo (he had been given 11 years and 4 months) defended by lawyer Gianni Caracci. The sentence for Bartolomeo Tilotta (one year and 10 months) accused of aiding and abetting was confirmed. Paolo Buongiorno, who had been given seven years and two months in second instance, got six years and two months.

The trial, which was held in abridged form, stemmed from an investigation by the Dda of Palermo that also involved Matteo Messina Denaro's brother-in-law, Gaspare Como, who chose the ordinary trial. According to the prosecution, Como was allegedly designated 'regent' of the Castelvetrano district by his godfather for a certain period. The investigation revealed, among other things, the clan's interest in the online betting sector, as well as various extortions and damage. The defendants originally included Rosario Allegra, husband of Giovanna Messina Denaro, sister of the fugitive boss, who died in prison. The failure of the aggravating circumstance in the Supreme Court imposed a sentence reduction on appeal that led to the expiry of the terms of custody for Accardo, Bongiorno, Dell'Aquila, Greco, Guarino, La Cascia, Tilotta, Triolo, Urso and Valenti.