Rigopiano Avalanche Appeal Bis Verdict: Three Convictions, Five Acquittals in Italy

Appeal Bis Trial Concludes with Mixed Verdicts

The protracted legal saga surrounding the devastating 2017 Rigopiano hotel avalanche in Italy saw a significant development on February 9, 2024, as the appeal bis trial at the Perugia Court of Appeal delivered its verdict. The court handed down three convictions and five acquittals, alongside two statutes of limitations, in connection with the disaster that killed 29 people.

Among those convicted were former regional officials Carlo Visca, Pierluigi Caputi, and Vincenzo Antenucci, each sentenced to two years in prison. These individuals had previously been acquitted in earlier instances of the Abruzzo trials. The charges in this appeal focused on multiple non-aggravated manslaughter in conjunction with the negligent collapse of a building, aggravated by the verification of damage.

Conversely, the appeal bis trial resulted in the acquittal of several key figures, including the former mayor of Farindola, Ilario Lacchetta, and former municipal technician Colangeli. Three other regional officials – Giovani, Belmaggio, and Primavera – were also acquitted. Additionally, statutes of limitations were applied to former provincial officials Di Blasio and D'Incecco.

The Rigopiano Tragedy: A Recap

The disaster unfolded on January 18, 2017, when a massive avalanche struck the Hotel Rigopiano in Farindola, Abruzzo, Italy. The four-star hotel, located on the Gran Sasso d'Italia massif, was engulfed by between 40,000 and 60,000 tonnes of snow, rocks, and uprooted trees. The avalanche was triggered by a series of powerful earthquakes that had rocked the region earlier that day, combined with record snowfall in the preceding days.

At the time of the avalanche, 40 people were present in the hotel, comprising 28 guests and 12 employees, many of whom were gathered on the ground floor awaiting evacuation following the earthquakes. The impact largely destroyed the hotel, killing 29 people. Eleven individuals survived the catastrophe, with rescuers reaching the isolated site several hours later due to roads blocked by heavy snow.

Ongoing Legal Scrutiny by Italy's Highest Court

The legal proceedings surrounding the Rigopiano tragedy have been complex and multi-layered. Following the appeal bis verdict, Italy's highest court, the Court of Cassation, intervened with a ruling on December 3, 2024. This decision confirmed the convictions of the then Prefect of Pescara for omission of official duties and ideological forgery, and the Chief of Staff of the same Prefecture for ideological forgery. The convictions of the hotel manager and the surveyor who prepared the renovation permit report were also upheld for ideological forgery.

However, the Court of Cassation also annulled parts of the appeal sentence, ordering new appeal trials to re-evaluate the positions of several individuals, including the former mayor of Farindola, the municipal technician, and two officials from the Province of Pescara, concerning charges of manslaughter and multiple injuries through negligence. This indicates that the legal battle for accountability in the Rigopiano avalanche continues, with further judicial review anticipated for some of the accused.