The second degree trial for the train disaster of 12 July 2016 begins – AndriaLive.it

The constitution of the parties and, then, space for the public prosecution (which supports the appeal) and the defence: these were, in summary, the important moments of the first hearing – which took place yesterday – of the second degree trial for the train disaster of 12 July 2016 on the route between Andria and Corato.

In addition to the other civil parties that have appeared, also the Municipality of Andria, which yesterday was represented by its lawyer, the lawyer Giuseppe De Candia, and by the councilor for Security, Pasquale Colasuonno. However, Antonio Civita is the president of the judging panel which is also made up of Lorenzo Gadaleta and Roberto Oliveri del Castillo. While, for the Public Prosecution, Giannicola Sinisi, deputy deputy prosecutor at the Court of Appeal of Bari, and Marcello Catalano of the Prosecutor’s Office of Trani.

Already in the appeal the Prosecutor’s Office had requested the renewal of some investigative measures. Yesterday, in addition to reiterating what was produced in the document, he further explained his position. Among other requests, according to Sinisi and Catalano a new expert opinion would demonstrate that if some prevention measures had been adopted before 12 July 2016 (for example, the speed reduction to 50km/h applied after the tragic event), there would not have been that accident.

The hearing was then suspended for approximately an hour and a half so that the defense could analyze the prosecutor’s requests. The lawyers (among others, Michele Laforgia for Ferrotramviaria and Andrea Di Comite for the engineer Nitti) specified that if there were to be a renewal of investigative measures, this must be total and not only concern the points indicated by the prosecution. This would certainly lead to a repetition of the first instance trial.

In any case, the reservation will be dissolved by the Court with an order during the hearing on September 12th. Meanwhile, others have been scheduled: 10 October, 7 November and 12 December.

At first instance, last year the Court of Trani sentenced the station master of Andria Vito Piccarreta (to 6 years and 6 months) and the engineer of the train which left Andria and headed for Corato, Nicola Lorizzo (7 years), acquitting 14 other defendants and also excluding the civil liability of Ferrotramviaria, accused of administrative offence.