Carini mayor and deputy mayor charged after child dies at playground

Last Updated: October 10, 2024

Bimbo morì nel parco giochi, rinviati a giudizio il sindaco di Carini e il suo vice

The judge of Palermo Carmen Salustro has ordered a trial, at the request of prosecutor Alfredo Gagliardi, for the mayor of Carini Giovì Monteleone and the deputy mayor Salvatore Badalamenti for the death in 2021 of Gabriele Conigliaro, the 12-year-old boy who was crushed by a soccer field door inside the municipal playground in contrada Sofia.

The charge is of manslaughter. The mayor is defended by lawyer Andrea Crescimanno, the deputy mayor by lawyer Alessandro Gambino. The family of the child, who is a civil party, is represented by lawyer Francesca Cellura.

“I am deeply saddened by what happened to Gabriele. But I am calm about the trial: I have full confidence in justice,” said the mayor. According to the investigations, there are responsibilities for lack of “diligence and expertise.” Based on the investigations carried out by the Carini Carabinieri company, the Municipality would have set up a soccer field in the playground, without the necessary technical precautions to ensure safety.

A sports company was authorized to install the two soccer goals, but the administrators and municipal technicians never checked the correct execution of the installation: it seems that the goal was not anchored to the ground when Gabriele, playing, would have grabbed onto it. The metal structure overwhelmed him and irreparably injured his head, leaving him no chance.

During the trial, the defense will reveal the responsibilities of those who had the duty to inspect and ensure maintenance and did not do so.