Thread by @NickWhithorn

Saturday 23 May 1992 - Saturday 23 May 2020. In under a week's time it will be the 28th anniversary of Giovanni Falcone's murder. From tomorrow, this thread will tell the story of how he was undermined, isolated & abandoned to his destiny by the state he so loyally served >>1

Falcone became a 'giudice istruttore' in Palermo just days after the murder of Judge Cesare Terranova (photo) on 25 September 1979. Terranova had just finished a brief experience in Parliament and was set to become head of the section where Falcone would work >> 2

Unlike common law systems (e.g. England & Wales), 'Judge' in civil law systems (e.g. Italy) does not just refer to those who issue judgments & pass sentence at trial. As 'giudice istruttore', Falcone's job was to investigate, gather evidence & prepare prosecution case >> 3

He worked under Rocco Chinnici (photo), who assigned him to investigate Rosario Spatola in May 1980. This investigation, which dealt with mafia drug trafficking, saw the birth of the 'Falcone method', which consisted of looking closely at links between one case & another >> 4

Above all, Falcone was the first investigator to understand you had to 'follow the money'. As he said, "Drugs may leave no trace, but money certainly does." Thus, banks in Palermo suddenly found themselves inundated with court orders to reveal details of financial dealings >> 5

These investigations were also the first to look into the international element of mafia drug trafficking & financial dealings. The success of the 'Falcone method' in gave Chinnici the idea of creating a special 'antimafia pool' before he was murdered on 29 July 1983 >> 6

Rocco Chinnici was a Judge who loved visiting schools to educate young people about the mafia. He said, "speaking to young people, telling them who mafiosi are & how they make money...is one of the duties of a Judge...we will never defeat them on our own." >> 7

Chinnici always accepted that one day he would probably be killed but hoped that nothing would happen to his police escort officers. Sadly, two of them died with him when a 75kg car bomb was detonated in the street as he came out of his flat in Palermo on 29 July 1983 >> 8

They were the Carabinieri Mario Trapassi (photo, left) and Salvatore Bartolotta (photo, right). The doorman to Chinnici's building, Stefano Li Sacchi, also died. Chinnici's driver was seriously injured but survived. The bomb was detonated by Antonino Madonia >> 9

In total, 12 people were sentenced to life imprisonment for involvement in Chinnici's murder & 4 others to 18 years' in prison. The first to arrive at the awful scene of the explosion (photo) were Chinnici's son & daughter. His daughter also became a Judge & is now an MEP >> 10

Falcone did not need to wait for Chinnici's murder for brutal evidence of what happens to judges left alone. Gaetano Costa (photo) was the Prosecutor who received Falcone's file on the Spatola case in 1980 & signed the arrest warrants >> 11

Although only 1 signature was required by law, it was normal practice for 3 prosecutors to sign warrants, or exceptionally 2. Falcone's case was so well prepared that none of Costa's colleagues had the courage to sign & he did so alone. On 6 August 1980 he was shot & killed>> 12

Chinnici's antimafia pool, which included Giovanni Falcone, Paolo Borsellino and Giuseppe Di Lello (photo, left) was further strengthened by his successor, Antonino Caponnetto, who added another member, Leonardo Guarnotta (photo, right) >> 13

Caponnetto modelled his antimafia pool on a similar antiterrorism structure created by Giancarlo Caselli in Turin. It should not be forgotten that in the 1980s, as well as the mafia, Italy faced serious threats from the Red Brigades & neo-fascist terrorist groups >> 14

Now, for the first time, there was a team of specialist investigators dedicated solely to fighting the mafia (photo, left to right: Falcone, Borsellino & Caponnetto). There was also a new statutory weapon available: article 416bis of the Criminal Code >> 15

Article 416bis, introduced in September 1982, provided for heavy penalties for belonging to or aiding mafia-type organisations & increased penalties for crimes committed in the interests of such organisations. It also defined mafia-type organisations for the first time >> 16

The antimafia pool soon had its great opportunity and took full advantage of it with Giovanni Falcone at the forefront. The mafia experienced its first ever 'pentito', an assisting offender willing to reveal the secrets of the organisation: Tommaso Buscetta (photo) >> 17

Buscetta fled to Brazil in August 1980, while on parole, to escape the mafia war between the traditional Palermo mafia, to which he belonged, and the 'new' ruthless Corleonesi, headed by Totò Riina & Leoluca Bagarella, who were becoming dominant by eliminating their rivals >> 18

As the Corleonesi couldn't reach Buscetta in Brazil (he underwent surgery to alter his appearance & his voice), they took revenge by killing 11 of his relatives, including his sons & one of his brothers. In October 1983, he was arrested by Brazilian police >> 19

In June 1984, Falcone travelled to Brazil to question Buscetta, gaining the impression he may agree to collaborate with the state, though he initially refused. Italy then requested his extradition. Before it took place he attempted suicide by taking strychnine but was saved >> 20

Once in Italy, Buscetta began to reveal the secrets of the Sicilian mafia. The murder of so many of his relatives, the fact that his boss, Pippo Calò, had switched sides and supported Riina, along with Falcone's gentle persuasion, persuaded him to open up >> 21

Falcone said of Buscetta's collaboration: "Before him, we had only a superficial idea of the mafia phenomenon. With him we began to see inside it. He supplied us with a lot of information on the structure, on the recruitment methods & on the functions of Cosa Nostra >> 22

But, above all, he gave us a global, wide-ranging overview of the phenomenon. He gave us the key to understanding it, a language, a code. For us, it was like having a language teacher who allowed us to communicate with foreigners without resorting to gestures." >> 23

It seems incredible now but the information provided by Buscetta was a revelation at the time. Nobody even knew up to this moment that the name of the organisation was 'Cosa Nostra', let alone what a strong command & control structure it possessed >> 24

Evidence provided by Buscetta & others who followed his example was gathered by antimafia pool and, in combination with new Article 416bis of Criminal Code, it was decided the mafia would be hit hardest not by numerous separate trials but by one so called 'maxi-trial' >> 25

21 mafiosi decided to collaborate, the key ones, apart from Buscetta, being Salvatore Contorno (photo, left) & Vincenzo Sinagra (photo, right). It is important to note that, under Italian law, assisting offenders get no immunity from prosecution, only a reduction of sentence >>26

On 29 September 1984, the information received from Buscetta & other 'pentiti' led to 366 arrests in the 'Blitz of San Michele' & preparations for maxi-trial began in earnest >> 27

The task of writing the commital order fell to Falcone & Borsellino. Under the system then in force (reformed in 1988), the 'giudice istruttore' wrote a report presenting all the evidence gathered in investigations & either committing suspects to trial or discharging them >> 28

In this case, there were 707 suspects: a massive undertaking. The final document, filed on 8 November 1985, consisted of 8,607 pages in 40 volumes, requesting committal for trial for 476 people & discharging 231. Available below (Abbate Giovanni+706) >> 29
csm.it/web/csm-intern…

In summer 1985, realising the threat the investigations represented to the organisation, Cosa Nostra killed two of Falcone's closest collaborators, police officers Beppe Montana (28 July) & Ninni Cassarà (6 August). At this point, Falcone & Borsellino were in grave danger >> 30

In an interview in July 1992, two months after Falcone's murder and a few days before his own, Paolo Borsellino said, "as we were heading to the scene of Beppe Montana's murder, Ninni Cassarà said to me 'let's accept that we are dead men walking'..." >> 31

He continued, "I've always accepted the consequences of the job I do, of where I do it & how I do it … we all have the moral duty to continue to do this work without letting ourselves be conditioned by the feeling or, indeed, certainty that it could cost us dear." >> 32

Returning to summer 1985, Caponnetto received intelligence from inside prisons that Falcone & Borsellino were in mortal danger so, on 5 August, the day before Cassarà was killed, they & their families were flown secretly to Sardinia & transferred to Asinara Island (see map) >> 33

Asinara Is now a National Park but until 1998 it was home to a maximum security prison, a kind of Italian Alcatraz. In 112 years of use, only 1 prisoner succeeded in escaping. For this reason, it was considered a safe place for Falcone & Borsellino to continue their work >> 34

Falcone & Borsellino had long been friends, not just colleagues. They were born 8 months apart, both grew up in the Kalsa district of Palermo, they went to the same schools & both studied Law at Palermo University. This isolation only served to bind them closer together >> 35

To get a measure of how they must have felt & how dedicated they must have been to their cause, just consider this: these men who risked their lives every day to serve the state, on leaving Asinara on 30 August, were presented with a bill to pay for their board & lodging >> 36

Nonetheless, their stay on Asinara allowed them to complete their drafting of the commital order & now the trial, the first ever of its kind, and which would become the largest criminal trial in history, needed to be organised >> 37

Organising a trial for 475 defendants (1 died beforehand) was a logistical & security nightmare. No courthouse was large enough for defendants, lawyers, press etc. Moreover, transporting numerous prisoners at risk of escaping or being killed every day was unthinkable >> 38

The solution was to build a special courthouse, the 'Aula Bunker', linked directly to the Ucciardone prison, built in reinforced concrete, with bullet proof glass & designed to withstand missile attack. There were cages for prisoners, space for 200+ lawyers, press & public >> 39

The Court was a "Corte d'Assise", composed of two professional judges & six 'giudici popolari', similar to jurors in common law systems: together they form a kind of 'jury'. Naturally, there were fears of intimidation so 26 'giudici popolari' were listed in case of necessity>> 40

It was also difficult to find a judge to preside the Court. Ten judges managed to find a way of avoiding the job before Alfonso Giordano (photo) accepted the appointment. The second judge was Pietro Grasso. The two Public Prosecutors were Giuseppe Ayala & Domenico Signorino >> 41

The maxi-trial was criticised by some politicians (no prizes for guessing which ones) & parts of the press, who saw it as 'spectacularisation' of justice & considered Falcone & Borsellino to be ambitious & power hungry, eager to advance their careers >> 42

The most famous example was an article in "Corriere della Sera" on 10 January 1987, "I professionisti dell'antimafia", by Sicilian intellectual & author Leonardo Sciascia. A month earlier Borsellino had been appointed Public Prosecutor in Marsala, ahead of senior colleagues >> 43

Borsellino got the job because of his greater antimafia expertise but Sciascia saw it as arrogance & careerism. Sciascia's position found more supporters than opponents & marked the start of Falcone's sense of isolation, as Borsellino revealed after Falcone's death >> 44

This support encouraged Sciascia to continue with his campaign saying that the power of antimafia was "very similar, overall, to the power of the mafia and to the power of fascism" (Giornale di Sicilia) & "in the name of antimafia, a kind of terrorism is used..." (RAI Tg2) >> 45

Tomorrow, the thread continues covering highlights of the 22-month long maxi-trial in a day, using excerpts from the 1h45m RAI documentary linked below >> 46

Even if you don't understand Italian, the clips from the trial show you the mafiosi's faces (including brief view of Buscetta's face), let you hear their arrogant tones, thick Palermo accents, veiled threats & the surprisingly chatty, informal manner of Judge Giordano >> 47

In these clips of the maxi-trial you will not see Falcone or Borsellino. Their job was over when the committal order was completed. The state was represented by the Public Prosecutors, Giuseppe Ayala (photo, left with Falcone) and Domenico Signorino (photo, right) >> 48

However, the case for the prosecution was based entirely on the committal order written by Falcone & Borsellino. In a sense, Ayala & Signorino acted as their 'mouthpieces' & it is in this context that we can grasp why they came to be considered such a threat by Cosa Nostra >> 49

Timings in following tweets refer to the RAI documentary below. Quality is not great but adequate for understanding. Each clip begins at start time indicated. Apologies if you don't know Italian (if anyone can teach me subtitling, feel free to DM!) >> 50

The trial opened on 10 February 1986 & was soon bogged down by procedural details & delaying tactics from defendants & their lawyers (2m0s to 7m15s). This is not unusual in Italian trials but with 475 defendants it was obviously much worse>> 51

This situation dragged on for almost two months and many thought the trial would never get off the ground. Something special had to happen to overcome the stalling tactics and, on 3 April 1986, it did. Buscetta himself unexpectedly appeared in court to give evidence >> 52

In late 1985, Buscetta was extradited to the USA, where he was granted citizenship and given protection under a new identity in return for his collaboration in antimafia investigations. The US authorities allowed his temporary return to Sicily to get the maxi-trial moving >> 53

Buscetta entered the courtroom to complete silence from the defendants. They realised the situation had become much more serious for them now that he was there in person. Buscetta gave evidence (7m23s to 12m) confirming the existence of Cosa Nostra >> 54

It may seem strange now but the existence of a disciplined organisation with chain of command, rules of behaviour etc. was widely doubted by politicians, journalists & even Judges at the time. Falcone's greatest victory was getting this confirmed by a mafiiso in a law court >> 55

After confirming how Cosa Nostra was structured, divided into families & headed by a Commission or Cupola that coordinated & authorised murders, Buscetta went on (12m to 35m40s) to describe how Totò Riina's 'Corleonesi', eliminated the 'old' mafia >> 56

This included the murder of many members of Buscetta's family. The Corleonesi infiltrated all mafia families & dedicated themselves to lucrative drug trafficking. So, the so called 'mafia wars' were not between families but within families as Corleonesi took control of them >> 57

Murders of judges, police officers, such as Boris Giuliano (photo, left), & politicians, such as Piersanti Mattarella (photo, right, brother of current President of Italy), were not just means of removing threats but also of demonstrating the dominance of the Corleonesi >> 58

The testimony from Buscetta against the Corleonesi is key to understanding how mafia was changing. As a member of the old mafia, he did not identify with the brutal methods of the Corleonesi, who he did not consider 'men of honour' (35m40s to 39m10s) >> 59

At a certain point, the defendants changed their tactics from delaying & distracting to attacking Buscetta. First Luciano Liggio, then others, asked to testify & to be able to have a so called "confrontation" with their accuser (39m08s to 41m25s) >> 60

Liggio testified (41m24s to 45m44s) & denied belonging to Cosa Nostra. He claimed Buscetta had invented his accusations. How could he have committed crimes while in jail? In reality, it was well known that mafia bosses kept their authority when in jail>>61

Next to testify was Salvatore Contorno (45m45s to 52m24s), a mafia killer whose revelations had sent 160 people to prison. He describes the initiation ceremony into Cosa Nostra. Note the angry reaction of the defendants when he insults them (46m35s) >> 62

The next mafioso to give evidence was Pippo Calò (52m24s to 54m54s), considered to be the financial brain behind Cosa Nostra's money laundering. He was on trial on 137 counts, including 64 murders. His role in the trial was soon to become fundamental >> 63

Calò was the first & only defendant to be granted a "confrontation" with Buscetta (54m55s to 1h07m29s). It was a tense moment as Calò had been Buscetta's boss & had switched sides to support the Corleonesi, so he was deeply despised by Buscetta >> 64

Calò attempted to intimidate Buscetta by using veiled threats and references to members of his family who had been killed but his strategy failed as Buscetta held tight and confirmed all his accusations >> 65

Following this débacle, all the other defendants who had demanded a "confrontation" with Buscetta hurriedly withdrew their requests. In any case, the next day, Buscetta was returned to US authorities, who feared for his life >> 66

A series of other mafiosi accused by Buscetta followed on the witness stand, all denying membership of Cosa Nostra or, indeed, any knowledge of its existence, let alone involvement in any crimes, back to their original tactics (1h07m31s to 1h11m44s) >> 67

Another key moment in the trial was the testimony of Michele Greco (1h11m44s to 1h23m04s). Nicknamed the "Pope", he had been on the run for 2 years after being found guilty of ordering the murder of Judge Rocco Chinnici (see tweets 4,7,8,9 & 10) >> 68

Greco was arrested, after the trial had started, hiding in an isolated mountain hut with just a mule for company. He maintained the line of denying everything. Note hatred in his facial expression when speaking about Buscetta (1h15m55s to 1h16m20s) >> 69

Greco was followed by Ignazio Salvo, who was responsible, with his cousin Nino (deceased), for the Sicilian Regional tax collection agency & was accused of being a mafioso by Buscetta (1h23m04s to 1h25m04s) >> 70

Salvo could have been a key witness in establishing a link between mafia and politicians, particularly Vito Ciancimino, Mayor of Palermo. In the event, he also denied everything & nothing came of It. However, later investigations & trials would bring these links to light >> 71

After 5 months, the Court started to hear testimony from the relatives of people killed by the Corleonesi in the mafia war that had seen blood spilt in the streets of Palermo for years (1h25m04s to 1h30m00s) >> 72

Omertà, however, meant that these people, who had lost husbands, fathers, sons & brothers were too afraid to speak. There was an endless stream of "I don't know" or "I don't remember" >> 73

Note terrified woman (1h27m38s to 1h28m25s) who refuses to confirm in court a statement she made to investigating judges. She keeps glancing at the cages holding the defendants, so much so that Judge Giordano, usually very affable, loses his temper >> 74

Gruesome details of mafia killings are revealed by the mother of a victim of the Corleonesi & Vincenzo Sinagra (1h28m25s to 1h32m58s), a mafia killer, who describes how victims were interrogated, tortured, strangled & their bodies dissolved in acid >> 75

Observers were disappointed the scenario described by Buscetta (1h33m53s to 1h35m09s) in which the Mayor of Palermo, Vito Ciancimino, was under the command of Totò Riina & the Corleonesi received no confirmation in this trial. It would be proved later >>76

Luciano Liggio, towards the end of the trial, (1h35m10s to 1h40m20s), perhaps in a last desperate attempt to discredit Buscetta, alleged that Buscetta had approached him in spring 1970 on behalf of military figures who wanted to stage a coup in Italy >> 77

The role of mafia would be to create sufficient fear in the population & instability in the country to make a coup seem necessary or desirable. In return, they would have charges dropped against them. Liggio claimed Buscetta wanted vendetta because he refused to participate >> 78

On 22 April 1987, Public Prosecutors, Signorino & Ayala, began their closing speech (1h40m18s to 1h41m43s). It lasted 12 days. They requested 28 life sentences (for all members of the cupola), almost 5,000 years of prison in total, and 54 acquittals >> 79

Following this, almost 200 defence lawyers made closing speeches (1h41m43s to 1h42m09s), all using the same defence: Buscetta, Contorno, Sinagra & others were seeking revenge for having lost control to the Corleonesi & were, therefore, untrustworthy >> 80

Just before the court adjourned, Michele Greco spoke (1h42m10s to 1h43m05s). Even if you don't understand Italian, it Is interesting to listen to because it is a classic mafia style veiled threat, made directly to the presiding judge, Alfonso Giordano>> 81

Calmly, Greco wishes the judge "peace, tranquillity of spirit & conscience because serenity is fundamental when judging people". He continues, "I hope that this peace will accompany you for the rest of your life". Of course, everybody knew he was wishing the exact opposite >> 82

On 11 November 1987, after 21 months or 628 days of trial, the Court (Judge Alfonso Giordano, Judge Pietro Grasso & 6 'popular judges') retired to consider the verdicts (1h43m06s to 1h43m28s) >> 83

They returned after 35 days of deliberation and Judge Giordano took one and a half hours to read the verdicts: 346 convictions, 114 acquittals, 19 life sentences, a total of 2,665 years of imprisonment. The largest criminal trial in history came to an end >> 84

In case you are left wondering, Michele Greco's threat to Judge Giordano proved to be empty. He is still alive & well today, aged 91 (photo - Huffington Post). The second judge, Pietro Grasso is now a politician & served as President of the Italian Senate from 2013 to 2018 >> 85

The verdict in the maxi-trial was of historic importance. It was the first time the mafia had been officially recognised as a structured organisation with a chain of command. Falcone's investigations had been fully vindicated in almost 1 million pages of trial documents >> 86

Before moving on, let's have a look at two interviews given by Giovanni Falcone, one given to Italian state broadcaster RAI in 1986 during the maxi-trial, and the other given to French journalist Marcelle Padovani in 1988, after the successful conclusion of the trial >> 87

In the first interview, in 1986, Falcone appears somewhat uncomfortable. He was a very serious reserved person, who rarely appeared in public, forced to live segregated from the outside world and this was an unfamiliar situation for him >> 88

In addition, he was probably feeling the tension of the maxi-trial and the uncertainty surrounding it. The interview takes place inside his office in Palermo courthouse, which was practically a bunker, where he and his colleagues spent most of their time >> 89

In Palermo, you can visit the offices of Falcone & Borsellino at the courthouse, preserved as they were in 1992. The curator is Giovanni Paparcuri (photo) the Carabiniere who acted as Rocco Chinnici's driver & survived the bomb blast that killed the judge (see tweets 8-10) >>90

The brief interview, just 5 minutes, starts with the question, "why is it possible to hold this trial now, unlike in the past?" To this Falcone says the growing violence & arrogance of the mafia required a positive response from the state >> 91

The next question is "Can we talk about a mafia emergency like we talk about a terrorism emergency?" Here, the answer reveals something that Falcone always stressed. He says you can't talk about emergency if it is a phenomenon endemic to most Sicilians>>92

In other words, we can't dismiss mafiosi as 'monsters', in order to understand the phenomenon and fight it effectively, we have to recognise that they are fundamentally similar to us >> 93

The next 4 questions concerned a topic that was a raw nerve for Falcone at the time: the 'pentiti', mafiosi who turned state's evidence. There was a lot of malicious talk in media & among politicians that Falcone manipulated them to serve his purpose >> 94

Falcone answers the questions carefully & clearly: 'pentiti' are fundamental to understanding internal dynamics of Cosa Nostra but there need to be clear regulations on how to manage them. This lack of regulation (later resolved) left judges open to insinuations of collusion>> 95

Falcone is very direct in answering a question about what 'pentiti' get in return for collaboration: nothing. This is important to understand. Under the Italian system, immunity from prosecution is impossible. At best, you get a sentence reduction, but relatively limited >> 96

A simple exchange to understand Falcone.
Question: "with all the dangers & deprivations of this job, why do you do it?"
Answer: "only spirit of service."
Question: "have you ever had second thoughts about what you do?"
Answer: "no, never." >> 97

In the 2nd interview, from 1988, after the maxi-trial, we see a much more relaxed Falcone, frequently smiling & seemingly at ease. This interview was inserted, in various parts, into a documentary & was conducted by French journalist, Marcelle Padovani>>98

Padovani asks Falcone to give some examples of the threats he receives to which he replied, "I would rather not...if I recount them, they are signals sent to the outside...I would let them understand that I have understood, so it's better not to." >> 99

The journalist then asks Falcone how he accepts spending 16 hours a day in a concrete bunker. His reply is typically short & to the point, "I'd say with resignation." >> 100

The final quote from this interview is one of Falcone's most famous. The journalist reminds him of something he had said, "a coward dies every day, a brave person dies only once" and asks, "does this mean you are not afraid?" >> 101

Falcone answers, "it is not important to establish whether you are afraid or not. It is important to learn to live with your fear & not let yourself be conditioned by it. That is courage. Otherwise, it isn't courage, it is recklessness." >> 102

This second interview shows an optimistic Giovanni Falcone in 1988. The maxi-trial had ended successfully, the state no longer seemed powerless against the mafia and his theories & methods had proved to be valid and effective. He was at his peak. >> 103

Falcone's success, however, generated a lot of jealousy within his profession and disquiet in political circles, in which there had always been collusion with the mafia and common interests, now threatened by this serious disruption of the status quo >> 104

The head of the antimafia pool, Antonino Caponnetto, retired in early 1988, persuaded by Falcone & Borsellino, among others, worried about his health. He agreed to retire only on condition that Falcone would be his successor, in order to continue the work of the pool >> 105

However, the "Consiglio Superiore della Magistratura", the governing body of Italian judiciary, chose Antonino Meli instead. Meli had no experience of mafia investigations, was just 2 years away from retirement & had been candidate for a more prestigious senior job >> 106

Meli had been convinced to apply for the job just night before the deadline. Falcone's enemies within judiciary & state knew they could use excuse of seniority to trump greater relevant experience of Falcone. The final vote was 14 for Meli, 10 for Falcone & 5 abstentions >> 107

Both Caponnetto and Borsellino would later say that this vote, which left Falcone isolated and fully aware that he would have to fight elements of the judiciary & state, as well as the mafia, was the moment when he "started to die" >> 108

Meli fundamentally disagreed with Falcone's thesis of the mafia as a well structured organisation with a coordinated strategy, believing it to be a group of loosely connected bands of criminals, despite the findings of the maxi-trial >> 109

In the meantime, the maxi-trial had moved on to the appeal stage (in Italy right to appeal is automatic) & everybody knew there was a risk, if appeal confirmed convictions, that these would be quashed by the Supreme Court of Cassation if assigned to Section 1 of the Court >> 110

Section 1 of the Supreme Court of Cassation was presided over by Judge Corrado Carnevale, nicknamed "ammazzasentenze" (conviction killer) because of the high number of convictions he quashed, especially those for mafia related crimes >> 111

Meli formally dissolved the antimafia pool, ending coordinated investigations into Cosa Nostra. Despite his bitterness, Falcone continued to successfully investigate mafia drug trafficking activities, including operations carried out in conjunction with Rudolph Giuliani >> 112

On 21 June 1989 an attempt was made on Falcone's life. In the summer months he rented a villa in a seaside location known as Addaura, just outside Palermo. 58 sticks of explosives were left in a bag among the rocks where he habitually went swimming >> 113

On that day, Falcone was due to host Swiss colleagues, Carla del Ponte and Claudio Lehmann to discuss the 'Pizza Connection' investigation into money laundering. The explosives were discovered by police protection officers at 7.30 a.m. >> 114

Elements in the press & political world insinuated the episode had been staged by Falcone himself in an attempt to regain prominence. During this period, the courthouse in Palermo was rocked by a series of anonymous letters, attributed to a figure called the 'corvo' (crow) >> 114

These anonymous letters accused Falcone of organising the return to Palermo of a 'pentito' Salvatore Contorno in order to kill members of the Corleonesi. More generally, they depicted the antimafia pool as operating outside the law & riven by jealousy & personal rivalry >> 115

Detailed knowledge of workings of the pool evident in the letters led to the suspicion they were written by a Judge, supported by the fact that police informers called the author the 'corvo' (crow), used in mafia language to refer to judges (because of their black gowns) >> 116

Investigations, including taking of fingerprints surreptitiously, led to the identification of Judge Alberto Di Pisa (photo), who convicted of defamation & sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. On appeal, however, the fingerprints were held to be spoiled & he was acquitted >> 117

The anonymous letters were just the start of the so called 'Stagione dei veleni' (poisoned season) as politicians, with part of the media, started to turn on Falcone, who suffered not so much for the criticism as for the fact that his colleagues did little to defend him >> 118

A twitter thread is necessarily superficial and cannot dig deep into detail but to understand the political background in Sicily we need, at least, a simple consideration of the dynamics within the dominant party, Democrazia Cristiana (Christian Democrats) >> 119

DC dominated Italian politics, in government constantly since the end of World War II, albeit in a series of coalition governments, and it was particularly strong in Sicily, an autonomous region with powers that are reserved to central government in other parts of Italy >> 120

In short, if you wanted influence and power in Sicily, you had to go through DC. This naturally included the mafia, who infiltrated the party and, through it, the institutions and administration of the region. It was, however, a complex party, with numerous factions >> 121

So, while DC housed many figures colluding with the mafia, such as Vito Ciancimino (Mayor of Palermo during the rise to power of the Corleonesi), it also hosted many honest politicians, sometimes murdered by the mafia for their probity, such as Piersanti Mattarella >> 122

In 1990-91, the 2 key figures in the Sicilian DC were Salvo Lima (photo, left) & Leoluca Orlando (photo, right). Lima was Andreotti's man in Sicily, suspected of collusion with mafia (they murdered him in 1992), while Orlando, Mayor of Palermo, was a noted antimafia figure>>123

In August 1989, Falcone was assigned to interrogate a new 'pentito', Giuseppe Pellegriti, claiming to have information regarding Lima's involvement in murders of Piersanti Mattarella (DC, President of Sicilian Region) & Pio La Torre (Secretary of Communist Party in Sicily) >> 124

Falcone was always careful dealing with 'pentiti', who may be planted by mafia groups to distract attention or bring suspicion on their enemies. After thorough investigation, Falcone discarded Pellegriti's testimony and charged him with defamation. Pellegriti then recanted >> 125

Falcone's decision provoked the ire of Orlando's supporters, who despised Lima & everything he stood for. They saw it as a 'betrayal' & began to 'whisper' that Falcone had changed since the failed attempt on his life at Addaura, even suggesting he may have staged it himself >>126

Then, in April 1990, Orlando made a serious allegation during a TV interview. He accused Falcone & others of "keeping documents in drawers at the courthouse", deliberately hiding evidence that could convict politicians of commissioning murders >> 127

This was an incredible allegation. Orlando had always been considered an ally of Falcone. The period following his election as Mayor in 1985 had been dubbed the "Palermo Spring" because of the sense of hope it brought to the city. Now he was turning on the people's hero >> 128

Falcone's response was equally tough: "This is using the judicial system for political ends & we reject it. If the Mayor of Palermo knows something, then he should name names, cite facts, take responsibility for what he said. Otherwise, keep quiet..." >> 129

Orlando has always said he stands by his words & that he cleared things up with Falcone afterwards. Anyway, the matter seems not to have damaged his antimafia credentials and, being a wily political operator, now, in 2020, he is serving his fifth term as Mayor of Palermo >> 130

As 1990 drew on, Falcone gradually came to the conclusion he could no longer stay in Palermo. His investigations continued, successfully, into mafia drug trafficking and money laundering but no longer as part of a wider effort against the mafia. He was working in isolation >> 131

The new Procurator, Pietro Giammanco (photo), continued the work of Meli (who had retired in the meantime), dismantling any semblance of the old antimafia pool, isolating Falcone and subjecting him to various episodes of professional humiliation >> 132

Press & politicians were obsessed with the so called "third level", links between mafia & politicians, who may have played a part in ordering the murders of figures such as Piersanti Mattarella, Pio La Torre or General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa (photo) >> 133

The recurring question was, "why doesn't Falcone do anything to uncover this third level?" with the obvious insinuation that he didn't really want to uncover it. In reality, Falcone never ceased to investigate these so called "excellent" murders >> 134

As he explains in this interview from 1990, the 'pentiti' always refuse to speak about the third level. Not out of fear, but because if they did there would be such huge controversy that their other revelations would get mixed up in it & ignored >> 135

As he says in the interview, when he interrogated Buscetta & others there were insinuations that he put words in their mouth, now he was accused of not revealing what suspects told him. In reality, he simply recorded what was revealed to him. What they said was their choice >>136

Wanting to make his voice heard on mafia investigations, but without leaving Palermo, Falcone stood for election to Consiglio Superiore della Magistratura, governing body of the Italian judiciary. He suffered another humiliation, as his own colleagues failed to elect him >> 137

Finally, in February 1991, he accepted the offer of Claudio Martelli, Justice Minister, to become Director of the Criminal Affairs Section of the Ministry of Justice in Rome. Here he could contribute to the project to create a National Antimafia Prosecutor's office >> 138

Around the time he left Palermo, Falcone gave another TV interview in which he almost seems to foresee his own death. In the interview, the journalist asks whether he thinks the situation is better or worse than 10 years before >> 139

Falcone responds that it is certainly not better, going on to say that there is something that makes him worried. There are signs from within Cosa Nostra that something terrible could well happen but he cannot reveal any more than that >> 140

Two more TV appearances by Falcone while he was at the Ministry in Rome are worth seeing in order to understand the tense atmosphere in which he was operating. The first is from September 1991 & was a joint RAI (state broadcaster)-Fininvest (Berlusconi media) broadcast >> 141

Hosted by Maurizio Costanzo (Fininvest) in Rome, with Falcone, & Michele Santoro (RAI) in Palermo, it is famous for a violent verbal tirade against Falcone by Totò Cuffaro, then a little known DC politician, later to become Governor of Sicily >> 142

Cuffaro was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment in 2011 for collusion with the mafia and was released after serving just under six years >> 143

The second appearance on TV, on 12 January 1992, was the last he made before his murder. It was an interview, followed by questions from studio guests, to present his newly published book, 'Cose di Cosa Nostra', written with French journalist Marcelle Padovani >> 144

A member of the public asks Falcone a question, "you have said that in Sicily you die if you are left isolated. As you are fortunately still with us, who is it that protects you?" It was undoubtedly a well intentioned, though badly phrased, question >> 145

Falcone's answer is ironic, "is it necessary to get killed in order to be credible in this country?" When it's suggested he's overreacting, he goes on, "this is a country where, if they plant a bomb to kill you & it fails to explode, it's your fault.">>146

A final piece of evidence of how isolated Falcone had become. This clip shows the moment when he receives a note threatening his life during a conference on the drug trade in Rome on 12 May 1992, just 11 days before he was killed >> 147

In the meantime, the maxi-trial had progressed onto the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Cassation. In the latter Court, fortunately, under the rotation system, it was not assigned to the First Section presided over by Corrado Carnevale (see tweet 111) >> 148

Progress of the trial left a trail of blood. The Appeal Judge assigned to the case, Antonino Saetta (photo) noted for his rigour, was murdered by Cosa Nostra, together with his son, before the trial began. The Appeal saw life sentences cut from 19 to 12 and 86 acquittals >> 149

In August 1991, the Prosecutor preparing to overturn these Appeal Court decisions in the Supreme Court of Cassation, Antonino Scopelliti (photo), was murdered in Calabria. This murder was carried out by 'ndrangheta as a favour to Cosa Nostra >> 150

At Scopelliti's funeral, Falcone confided to the victim's brother, "if they have decided this, they will not stop here. I am next."
On 30 January 1992, the Supreme Court of Cassation overturned almost all of the acquittals decided on appeal and restored the life sentences >> 151

Falcone's victory in getting the mafia recognised as a structured organisation with central command & control was complete. It was also the moment in which Cosa Nostra, in particular Totò Riina (photo), decided he had to be eliminated & it had to be done in spectacular style>>152

Initially, in February 1992, Riina sent a group to Rome with the task of killing Falcone. This group included Giuseppe Graviano (photo, left), Matteo Messina Denaro (photo, right), Vincenzo Sinacori, Lorenzo Tinnirello & Cristofaro Cannella, all armed with kalashnikovs >> 153

Then, Riina ordered them back to Palermo as plans had changed. At that stage they would have already killed Falcone but for the mistaken name of a restaurant. They had been informed that Falcone frequented a restaurant called "Amatriciana; in fact, it was "Il Carbonaro" >> 154

It had been decided that the death of Falcone should be "spectacular" in order to send a strong message to the state. Gaspare Mutolo, another 'pentito' said that there was "not just the mafia" behind this decision, hinting at involvement from elements of the state itself >> 155

The task of organising the attack was given to Giovanni Brusca (in photo, at time of his arrest), who was helped by Pietro Rampulla, experienced in handling explosives. They chose a site near the Capaci exit of the A29 motorway between Palermo and the airport >> 156

At this point, the motorway ran along an embankment and, below the embankment, there was a drainage pipe, narrow enough to enhance the power of an explosion but wide enough for people to enter, crouching down, in order to place the explosives >> 157

In April 1992, Brusca carried out tests using explosives in an isolated countryside location near Altofonte. A team of mafiosi carried out inspections of the site, held meetings to organise the attack and filled 13 drums with around 400kg of explosives >> 158

Apart from Brusca and Rampulla, the team consisted of:
Salvatore Biondino (photo, top left), Raffaele Ganci (photo, top right), Salvatore Cancemi (photo, bottom left), Santino Di Matteo (photo, bottom right) >> 159

Gioacchino La Barbera (no photo), Antonino Gioè (photo, top left), Leoluca Bagarella (photo, top right), Giovanbattista Ferrante (photo, bottom left), Antonino Troia (photo, bottom right) >> 160

They carried out speed tests on the motorway, placing an old refrigerator & painting the guardrail red at the point in which they needed to activate the remote control to detonate the explosives. They also cut back all the tree branches that interfered with the view >> 161

On the night of 8 May 1992, Brusca, La Barbera, Gioè, Troia & Rampulla inserted the 13 drums of explosives into the drainage pipe, using a skateboard, while Bagarella, Biondo, Biondino & Battaglia acted as lookouts >> 162

Everything was now ready for the attack, they just needed to know when Falcone would fly to Palermo. Raffaele Ganci, his sons Domenico & Calogero, and his nephew Antonino Galliano took turns to watch the armour-plated cars outside Falcone's house to check their movements >> 163

On Saturday 23 May 1992 at 16.45, a plane carrying Judge Giovanni Falcone & his wife, Francesca Morvillo (a Palermo Appeal Court Judge, in photo with Falcone), took off from Rome Ciampino Airport >> 164

At about the same time, Domenico Ganci called Giovanbattista Ferrante and Gioacchino La Barbera to tell them that the armour-plated cars used to transport & escort Falcone had left Palermo and taken the A29 motorway, presumably heading for Punta Raisi Airport (see map) >> 165

At the airport, Ferrante and Salvatore Biondo observed the cars arriving, meaning that Falcone was almost certainly on his way to Palermo from Rome >> 166

Falcone's plane landed in Palermo at 17.38. Three armour-plated Fiat Cromas and 6 police bodyguards were waiting, as well as Falcone's driver, Giuseppe Costanza. The brown Croma, in front, carried Police protection officers Vito Schifani, Antonino Montinaro & Rocco Dicillo >> 167

The Blue Croma in the rear was carried police protection officers Paolo Capuzzo, Gaspare Cervello & Angelo Corbo. The white Croma in the middle carried Giovanni Falcone, Francesca Morvillo & Giuseppe Costanza >> 168

Giovanni Falcone, like many others who have lived under close protection for many years, missed the freedom to perform simple everyday actions, such as driving his own car. Sometimes he would ask Costanza to let him drive & did so on this occasion. Costanza agreed >> 169

Thus, the white Croma was driven by Falcone with his wife in front passenger seat & his driver on the back seat. All of this was observed by Ferrante & Biondo, who saw the cars leave the airport and take the motorway back to Palermo >> 170

Ferrante called Gioacchino La Barbera, who followed the convoy of cars by driving along a road parallel to the motorway, keeping in touch with Antonino Gioè, who was stationed on a hilltop overlooking the motorway near the exit for Capaci >> 171

Gioè was watching the motorway through binoculars. He was accompanied by Giovanni Brusca, who held a remote control in his hand, of the type used for model aeroplanes. Both men were nervous & smoked endless cigarettes. The butts would later be used to source DNA evidence >> 172

At 17.57 the three cars came into Gioè's view. He waited for the cars to reach the marks they had left, so that he could tell Brusca the precise moment to detonate the explosives. However, their precision was to be thwarted by an unexpected twist >> 173

In the white Croma, Falcone's driver (in back seat) asked Falcone (driving) to pass him the keys to the judge's house so he could get out & open the door on arrival. The keys were on the same key ring as the car keys in the ignition and, removing them, made Falcone slow down>>174

Brusca panicked & hit the button. The explosion was so strong it registered on seismometers. As the white Croma had slowed, it was the brown Croma in front that bore the brunt of the explosion. It was blown into the air, across the other carriageway & into an olive grove >> 175

The three police officers on board, Vito Schifani, Rocco Dicillo & Antonio Montinaro (left to right in photo) were killed instantly. For some time rescue services did not even find the car as it was so far from the motorway, hidden from view by the olive trees >> 176

Falcone's car was not directly hit by blast but crashed into wall of rubble created by the explosion. Neither Falcone nor his wife were wearing seat belts & sustained head & internal injuries. They were both still alive & rushed to hospital but later died of their injuries >> 177

Falcone died at 19.05, Francesca Morvillo at 22.00. These were the days before 24 hour rolling news & state broadcaster RAI was hesitant about interrupting normal programming to give the news. This has to be understood in the context of the time >> 178

The Italian political system was in a fragile state following 'tangentopoli' corruption scandals & Parliament had been deadlocked for weeks attempting to elect a new President of the Republic. There was genuine fear about how public would react to the murder of their hero >>179

It was, indeed, a traumatic experience for the nation. Any Italian old enough can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news of Falcone's death. Below is link to the news finally broadcast by RAI >> 180

The 3 police officers in the third car (blue one in video) survived without serious injuries, while Falcone's driver Giuseppe Costanza, on rear seat of white car was seriously injured but also survived >> 181

It seems incredibile nobody else was killed. Numerous cars were passing at moment of explosion & from video below you can see devastating effects of blast (at 2m 50s in video you see size of crater left by explosion). In total, 23 people were injured>> 182

The public mood in Sicily following the murder of Falcone can be seen in this video. The first funeral shown (from 0m 40s) is that of Falcone, wife & police officers. Here, the mood is angry, highly emotional with insults hurled at politicians >> 183

Rocco Dicillo
b. Triggiano, 13 April 1962
d. Capaci, 23 May 1992

Antonino Montinaro
b. Calimera, 8 September 1962
d. Capaci, 23 May 1992

Vito Schifani
b. Palermo, 23 February 1965
d. Capaci, 23 May 1992

Francesca Morvillo
b. Palermo, 14 December 1945
d. Capaci, 23 May 1992

Giovanni Falcone
b. Palermo, 18 May 1939
d. Capaci, 23 May 1992