29 July 1983, Judge Rocco Chinicci, who created the antimafia pool in Palermo, bringing in Giovanni Falcone (in photo, young Falcone with Chinnici) and Paolo Borsellino, is killed by Cosa Nostra in a car bomb attack in front of the building where he lives [Thread] >> 1
Chinnici becomes Chief Investigating Magistrate in 1979, when the man designated to take up the post, Cesare Terranova, is assassinated by the mafia before he is even appointed. Chinnici is the first to realise that a coordinated effort is needed to fight the mafia >> 2
He creates the so-called "antimafia pool" in Palermo, a group of magistrates specialising in mafia investigations, developing the necessary experience & expertise, an initiative unpopular with traditionalists. Giovanni Falcone & Paolo Borsellino are brought into the pool >> 3
He is a great believer in education as an arm against the mafia & often visits schools to give talks: "talking to young people, telling them who mafiosi are & how they get rich ... is one of a judge's duties. Without changing consciences, we will never succeed on our own" >> 4
Of the mafia he says, "the mafia has always been reactionary, conservative, defensive & dedicated to the accumalation of wealth..." Knowing he is at risk of being killed at any moment, he hopes nothing will happen to his protection officers. Sadly, that is not to be the case >> 5
At 8 a.m. on 29 July 1983, as he comes out of the front door of his building to get into his car and go to work, a bomb planted in a Fiat 126 parked right opposite is detonated by Antonino Madonia. The effects of the explosion are devastating >> 6
As well as Chinnici, 2 Carabinieri assigned to protect him, Mario Trapassi (left) & Salvatore Bartolotta (right), are killed, as is the caretaker of the building, Stefano Li Sacchi. Among the first to arrive on the scene are Chinnici's children, Elvira (24) & Giovanni (19) >> 7
Chinnici is the first Judge killed by Cosa Nostra in such a dramatic manner, with a car bomb attack, underlining the threat he represented to them. Both Falcone & Borsellino will suffer a similar fate in 1992 (photo, Borsellino pall-bearer at Chinnici's funeral) >> 8
Rocco Chinnici's eldest daughter, Caterina, followed in his footsteps with a career as a Judge in Sicily. Since 2014, she has been a Member of the European Parliament, elected in Sicily >> 9
Rocco Chinnici
b. 19 January 1925, Misilmeri
d. 29 July 1983, Palermo
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