For the Attorney General of the Court of Cassation , the crime of multiple manslaughter contested against the defendants in the trial for the victims of cyclone Cleopatra in Olbia is prescribed . Time could therefore erase any criminal responsibilities (not civil ones) for the death of 5 people from Olbia, overwhelmed by water and mud on that tragic 18th November 2013.

The appeal before the supreme court was presented by lawyers Franco Coppi, Nicola di Benedetto and Jacopo Merlini. The first two defend the former mayor of Olbia Gianni Giovannelli, while their colleagues protect the interests of the municipal managers Antonello Zanda and Giuseppe Budroni, all condemned jointly with the Municipality also for the damages suffered by the victims.

The sentences imposed (suspended) by the Court of Appeal of Sassari are two years' imprisonment for Giovannelli, one year and eight months for the municipal managers. At first instance, in Tempio, they had all been acquitted. The crime is that of multiple manslaughter for the death of Anna Ragnedda, Francesco and Enrico Mazzoccu, Patrizia Corona and her daughter Morgana. For the death of Maria Massa, the Court of Appeal had instead acquitted the defendants.

The first hearing was held today in Piazza Cavour. The lawyers asked for acquittal. The Court has withdrawn to deliberate: the shadow of the statute of limitations looms ever larger.

(Unioneonline)