Matteo Messina Denaro sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia trial
Sicily’s most wanted man, Matteo Messina Denaro, has been sentenced to life in an absentia trial Tuesday evening. Denaro has been convicted on the counts of murdering two anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, among others, while serving as alleged leader of the Sicilian mafia back in 1992. Prosecutors have said that he killed enough people to “fill a small cemetery”.
Matteo Messina Denaro, 58, has been on the run since 1993 and has yet to be found. Officials reportedly do not have a real picture of him without glasses, and they do not know the sound of his voice. He has essentially been a ghost for over two decades. While being considered the most high-profile, it is unclear whether or not he has control over the entire Sicilian organization.
The court also ruled that the family members of the victims will receive payouts ranging from 10,000 to 500,000 euros.
Messina Denaro already has several life sentences waiting for him if he’s found. Italian law enforcement has been trying to eliminate Denaro’s inner circle by arresting relatives and close associates in hopes of eventually forcing him to come out of hiding. So far, to no avail.
(Source: au.news.yahoo.com)
