Genoa Bridge Disaster Trial Concludes: 32 Guilty Verdicts

Mon Sep 14 2026 12:00:55 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Italy convicts 32 people for the 2018 Genoa bridge collapse that killed 43, including the former CEO of the motorway operator, with sentences ranging up to 12 years in jail.

The criminal trial over Genoa’s 2018 Morandi bridge collapse has ended with 32 defendants convicted, highlighting failures in infrastructure oversight and security. Former CEO Giovanni Castellucci, who had already been sentenced for a prior road disaster, received a twelve‑year prison term for his role. The collapse, which occurred during a heavy storm at the holiday season, crashed 43 lives and demolished the toll‑lane bridge. An influential motorway executive, Michele Donferri Mitelli, was given 11 years in jail. The verdict underscores the need for stronger safety protocols across Italy’s transport network.

The criminal trial over Genoa’s August 2018 Morandi bridge collapse has finished with 32 defendants found guilty, including key figures from the national motorway operator.

Former chief executive Giovanni Castellucci, already serving a six‑year term for a 2013 road incident, was sentenced to 12 years in jail for his part in the disaster. Another senior official, Michele Donferri Mitelli, received 11 years of imprisonment.

The collapse tore through the city’s toll‑lane bridge during a heavy rainstorm at the height of Christmas, sending cars and lorries into the Ligurian Sea and claiming 43 lives. The court’s verdict reflects mounting criticism of Italy’s infrastructure safety and highlights systemic oversight failures.

Justice Minister Nicola Zingaretti said the sentences would act as a deterrent for future safety breaches. In the words of BBC journalist Davide Ghiglione, the trial showcases the long‑grimed consequences that arise when public safety standards slip.