The murders of Aemilia 1992, final three life sentences

The "Aemilia 1992" trial on two 'Ndrangheta murders committed in the province of Reggio Emilia in 1992 ends in the Court of Cassation, with the confirmation of three life sentences and a postponement for a new appeal, in acceptance of an appeal from the general prosecutor's office, to re-determine the sentence of a defendant.

The murders were those of Nicola Vasapollo in Reggio Emilia and Giuseppe Ruggiero in Brescello, between September and October 1992, in the feud between rival gangs (the Vasapollo-Ruggiero families on one side and the Dragone-Grande Aracri-Ciampà families on the other). Both victims were under house arrest and were shot dead in their homes.

Ruggiero was killed by a commando wearing carabinieri uniforms.

After the acquittals in the first instance, the DDA of Bologna supported the accusation on appeal where the Court, in October 2025, had sentenced the boss Nicolino Grande Aracri, Angelo Greco and Antonio Ciampà to life imprisonment, while Antonio Lerose had been given 18 years and it is this position that returns to the appeal.