Filippo Verterame
The abbreviated trial for the violent brawl that took place on 19 August in Isola di Capo Rizzuto, culminating in the killing of Filippo Verterame, ended with a sentence of 16 years and 3 months in prison and an acquittal.
Conviction for attempted murder
The judge for the preliminary hearings of Crotone, Elisa Marchetto, sentenced Giuseppe Verterame, 57 years old, the victim’s uncle, accused of the attempted murder of Giuseppe Paparo, Filippo’s self-confessed murderer.
Absolution and immediate release
Prosecutor Matteo Staccini had asked for 19 years in prison. In the same proceeding, the preliminary hearing judge acquitted Francesco Paparo, accused of aggravated brawl, “for not having committed the crime”, ordering his immediate release.
The prosecutor had asked for 4 years in prison for Paparo.
Compensation for civil parties
Giuseppe Verterame was also sentenced to pay damages to the civil parties, including the murderer Giuseppe Paparo himself.
The reconstruction of the violent brawl
At the center of the trial is the reconstruction of the fight that broke out last summer between the members of two families in Le Cannella, a hamlet of Isola Capo Rizzuto. According to the investigations, Giuseppe Verterame repeatedly hit Giuseppe Paparo with a cutting weapon in the chest and abdomen, puncturing his lung, in response to the amputation of a thumb suffered shortly before by his rival.
The futile reasons and previous disagreements
The brawl apparently arose for trivial reasons linked to the dust raised by Filippo Verterame’s car, a pretext which caused ancient disagreements linked to the management of the “On the beach” beach in the Le Cannella area to explode.
The ordinary trial before the Court of Assizes
At the same time, the ordinary trial for the other suspects opened yesterday before the Court of Assizes: Giuseppe Paparo, who confessed to the murder of Filippo Verterame, Antonio Paparo and Alessandro Bianco, the latter accused of aggravated brawling.