The abbreviated trial for the defendants involved in the Habanero anti-mafia operation against the Preserre clans in Vibo ended with 16 requests for conviction. Among the requests for punishment formulated by the prosecutor of the DDA of Catanzaro, Andrea Buzzelli, there is a life sentence for Francesco Capomolla, 37 years old, from Acquaro, accused of having taken part in the “Ariola massacre” which occurred on 25 October 2003 in the hamlet of Gerocarne and which saw three people fall under a rain of fire – Francesco Gallace, Giovanni Gallace and Stefano Barilaro – while a fourth person was injured.
The investigation aims to shed light on the clash between the Maiolo clan of Acquaro (allied to the Emanuele clan of Ariola and Sorianello) and the Gallace clan of Gerocarne, allied to the Loielo family. These are the other sentencing requests: Cristian Capomolla, from Acquaro, 12 years; 12 years old Francesco Tarzia, from Acquaro; 16 years old Vincenzo Pisano, from Gerocarne; 12 years old Sandro Ganino, from Acquaro; 15 years old Domenico Fusca, from Dasà; 12 years old Giorgio Galiano, 50 years old, from Vibo Valentia; 12 years old Cosimo Bertucci, from Gerocarne; 12 years old Francesco Bertucci, from Gerocarne but resident in Nichelino; 10 years old Francesco Ciconte, from Sorianello, but resident in Brandizzo; 10 years old Nicola Papaleo, from Rosarno (Rc), but resident in Francavilla al Mare; 10 years Rodolphe Pinto, 63 years old, from San Salvo, province of Chieti; 4 years Francesca Silipo, from Acquaro; 15 years old Giuseppe Taverniti, from Gerocarne, resident in Brandizzo (To); 10 years Rinaldo Loielo, 30 years old, from Gerocarne, resident in Rondissone; 4 years old Luca Marano, from Pescara. The clans would have exercised their power over the municipalities of Acquaro, Dasà, Gerocarne, Soriano Calabro and Sorianello, as well as in the province of Turin.