British media: The Italian mafia is rampant, and the families of the victims are suffering and so on

Source: Global Times

The Guardian of the United Kingdom, July 12 article, original title: 'No justice, no peace': The family of the victim of the Italian mafia atrocity awaits the closure of the case Vincenzo Agostino clinging to his son's coffin, earnestly vowing that he will not cut his hair and beard until justice is done. It was August 10, 1989. Five days earlier, two mafia killers on motorcycles had killed officer Antonio Agostino and his wife, Ida, who was five months pregnant. Vincenzo witnessed his son's suffering, and the killer fired a whole shuttle of bullets at him. The daughter-in-law, who was shot in the heart, tried to get close to her husband and tried to comfort him, but without success.

Last month, a judge released a report revealing how Antonio was killed in connection with an investigation into fugitives. One of the killers, mafia boss Nino Madonia, was sentenced to life in prison in March. Although there are still many unsolved mysteries and many of those involved in the murder are still at large, this is a small step forward. The verdict has reignited in Italy over the slow pace of legal proceedings and the bitter struggle of the families of innocent victims poisoned by the mafia to find a closure.

After 32 years, Vincenzo kept his promise: his long beard grew to his chest (pictured), becoming a symbol of the resistance to the mafia leader and a symbol of the long-term search for truth by the families of hundreds of victims of organized crime in Italy. According to reports, of the 600 cases involving innocent victims of organized crime in Italy, nearly 80 per cent were partially or completely unsolved. Due to the lack of evidence, most investigations have been concluded, and many other cases are mired in endless trials or are awaiting judicial action.

In a cemetery about 200 miles from Vincenzo, another father tapped on his son's tombstone, martino Seravolo. He said he had not been at peace since the Mafia Glorious Society, which mistakenly killed his 19-year-old son, Filippo, on October 25, 2012. The case was closed due to a lack of evidence, although prosecutors have identified 4 people responsible for the attack.

Another factor influencing the resolution of cases is the mafia's law of silence. Daniela Marcone, vice chairman of the anti-mafia, said, "The mafia rarely testifies itself. In mafia murders, where it is difficult to find witnesses among ordinary people, especially in small towns where organized criminal groups are rooted, the law of silence is a social phenomenon. Italy's national anti-mafia prosecutor de Lajo said: "The investigation of the mafia homicide case is really complicated. The leader will never be the only one who orders the murder. This makes the investigation difficult unless someone decides to tell the truth. ”

Martino said: "I read the newspaper every day, hoping to find the latest news of the mafia traitor. I know it's discouraging, but I never wanted revenge, I just wanted justice. Until I find this kind of news, I will continue to knock on my son's tombstone to let him know that I have not given up. No justice, no peace. It's the same for me, and it's the same for him. (By Lorenzo Tondo, transliteration)