Villarbasse massacre
Villarbasse massacre took place on November 20, 1945 in Villarbasse — about 20 km (12 miles) from Turin — where four men from Sicily (Pietro Lala, Giovanni D'Ignoti, Giovanni Puleo and Francesco La Barbera) killed ten people:[1] the guilties were sentenced to death, for the last application of capital punishment in Italy.[2]
Background
On November 1945, just after the end of World War II, Pietro Lala (aged 20) quit his job in a farm — known as "cascina Simonetto" —[1] pretending an inheritance he was given by his family in Sicily.[1] During the night between November 20 and 21, helped from the accomplices, entered into the farm to carry out a robbery:[1] the group clubbed ten people and threw their bodies, still alive, down a well.[1] After committing the robbery, they also stole clothes, food and 45,000 Liras each.[1]
The victims' bodies were founded days later,[1] leading to investigations in which D'Ignoti, Puleo e La Barbera were caught;[1] Lala came back to Sicily where — despite the alias of Francesco Saporito —[1] he was killed on April 11, 1946 by local racket.[1] On July 5, 1946 the Corte d'Assise sentenced to death the remaining guilties.[1]
Victims
- Massimo Gianoli
- Teresa Delfino
- Antonio Ferrero
- Anna Varetto
- Renato Morra
- Fiorina Maffiotto
- Rosa Martinoli
- Marcello Gastaldi
- Gregorio Doleatto
- Domenico Rosso
Execution and aftermath
The last execution in Italy took place on March 4, 1947 at 7:45 AM when D'Ignoti, Puleo and La Barbera were shot to death in a rifle range by 36 men.[3]
Italian Parliament eventually banished the capital executions on early 1948.[2]
See also
References
Sources
- Andrea Accorsi; Massimo Centini (2006). Newton Compton Editori (ed.). Delitti italiani risolti o irrisolti (in Italian). p. 574. ISBN 88-541-0707-7.
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