Thread by @NickWhithorn

Today Italian news media report the death of Raffaele Cutolo, founder/boss of 'Nuova Camorra Organizzata', a ruthless killer who'd been held under art. 41bis prison régime for 34 years. But, I don't want to talk about him. I want to tell you about one of his victims [Thread] >> 1

7 November 1980: Giuseppe Salvia (photo) is Deputy Governor of Poggioreale Prison in Naples, responsible for the Maximum Security wing of the institution. That day, Raffaele Cutolo is among a group of prisoners returning to jail from a court hearing >> 2

Cutolo is the undisputed centre of power in the Camorra and demands to be treated with "respect" by everyone. Other prisoners refer to him as 'O Professore as he is the only one among them able to read and write. Salvia is in his office when a prison guard knocks on the door >> 3

The guard has a worried expression on his face & asks hesitantly, "Sir, what should we do? Cutolo refuses to be searched. We all have families." According to regulations, prisoners returning from court hearings must be searched to check they are not hiding anything >> 4

On this occasion, Cutolo has decided to demonstrate his power & authority to other prisoners by refusing to be searched. The prison officers are afraid of repercussions on their families if they go ahead. Salvia comes out of his office and goes to meet Cutolo >> 5

To the amazement of the guards, prisoners & Cutolo, Salvia carries out the search himself. Caught off guard, Cutolo slaps Salvia in the face but this doesn't prevent him from completing the search. Salvia is well aware of the possible consequences of his act >> 6

Salvia is widely respected among the prisoners in Poggioreale because of his humane attitude to the prison régime but, by 'humiliating' Cutolo in this way, his position becomes untenable. Cutolo is prosecuted for assaulting Salvia, who has to testify at the trial >> 7

Salvia receives threatening phone calls to his office & several times sums of money are left on his desk in an attempt to corrupt him but he reports all these events. Cutolo is sentenced to an extra year in prison for his assault & his 'humiliation' becomes public knowledge >> 8

Salvia requests a transfer. In the meantime, his name is found on a Red Brigades death list seized by Carabinieri in a raid. Next to his name is the description of his car, a blue Fiat 128, with registration number. His car is changed but he is not given any other protection >> 9

On 14 April 1981, Giuseppe Salvia leaves Poggioreale Prison at 2 p.m. at the end of his shift. He sets off towrds his home in the Arenella district of Naples, where he lives with his wife Giuseppina Troianiello, a PE teacher, and their two sons, Antonino (5) & Claudio (3) >> 10

Just before the Arenella exit on the Naples ring road, Salvia notices the Alfa Romeo Giulietta following him and realises what is about to happen. He brakes sharply and reverses his Fiat Ritmo in an attempt to ram the Giulietta but the driver manages to avoid the impact >> 11

Salvia tries to escape on foot but is gunned down by the occupants of the Giulietta & another car that was also following behind.
His transfer comes through three days after his murder.
At his funeral there are 68 wreaths from prisoners in Poggioreale to prove his decency //12