1. Quaestor Vincenzo De
1.1. The story of Vincenzo Immordino
In the best tradition of this process, the relationships between Bruno Contrada Immordino Vincent and the commissioner have been a sort of philosopher's stone reversed useful to turn lead into gold, but not to produce the exact opposite phenomenon. Transform, ie, gold represented by the work of a fair and honest police officer, Bruno Contrada upright in the lead of suspicion, mistrust and poisons. We'll see, soon, as, according to the findings from the process, the relationship between Contrada and Immordino were so very tense, but no more than this can happen at any regular office or any human assembly: nothing new under the sun nor, for that matter, you may wish to impeach the minister because he had some disagreements on working with the head of government. We'll talk soon. Now we need to delineate the figure of Vincent Immordino, leaving, however, a fundamental assumption: the culture of suspicion is not ours. Immordino not repay with the same currency with which it has been thoroughly settled as unfairly Bruno Contrada. But it is fair to report what has emerged from the process, always bearing in mind, and let me say clearly, that these events which have not been made clear enough and that we quote only and exclusively for the record.
In the process, in fact, the defense argued that Bruno Contrada Immordino that Vincent was Peter, whose signature was found at the bottom of a document dating back to the '50s and on a society in which were a number of misunderstandings rather than names, would be precisely the future superintendent of Palermo.
The name of Vincent Immordino, the son of Peter, also appears in a report, signed by J. Vincent Scamporino, cataloged as Report No. JP-974 and addressed to Earl Brennan, a U.S. government official who was in charge of Italian affairs in the early, very hot periods in the Second World War. This report describes the explosion of bombs during a communist rally held in October 1944 in the Sicilian town of Villalba, Immordino where he was born. Let us quote an excerpt:
"It went to the news that Villalba was held in the City a large Communist rally, the success of which had large repercussion in the neighboring municipalities. No special alarm woke the news, as it was known that the day before Mr. Michele Pantaleone, a member of the local socialist-communist movement, had moved away from Villalba, directed in Caltanissetta, to prepare for the meeting in question. In the aftermath, in fact, around 14 o'clock, while the population was given the hour, in their own homes, we hear an echo of a loud trumpet notes Red Flag inconsiderate and shouts from a group of at least forty people that a truck arrived at the town square. (...) At this point it should be noted that in the same morning it was found smeared across the country and written many of the hammer and sickle emblems, this thing that surprised and angered much of the population, including the fact that until that day no corner of the country bore signs or inscriptions of this or that party .
first result is a regrettable incident: the local sergeant and sergeant of the Carabinieri were addressed by the Advocate Immordino of Peter Vincent, former head of the handpiece Voluntary Militia for National Security and instructor of premilitari Villalba, son the local headmaster, founder of the beam Villalba, political secretary of the National Party Fascist for 13 years, Centurion of the Militia and Scarf Littorio, who, with haughty do, protested because a couple of guys erased the inscriptions themselves with milk of lime. Meanwhile trovavasi to pass the mayor, lawyer Benjamin Farina, who asked to approach the same sergeant, was invited by them to express his thoughts about whether to intervene or not. The mayor, in order not to quibble about an episode of any entity, had to literally say, 'What do you want us! Two idiots have defaced the walls and two idiots erase the writing '. At the Immordino reacted saying: 'The greatest fool is her! '. It was in response a resounding slap Advocate Farina. The incident, however, was soon made up.
In the afternoon, and because of this precedent for the unusual event of the arrival of the truck, on which he had found a place, as previously mentioned, a noisy brass band, a good crowd poured into the square, where, among others, trovavasi Cavalier Calogero Vizzini. They lingered warmly, as in his habits, with various people and especially with the Christian Democrats, a bit 'more alarming, is meant for the uproar that it was preparing andavasi to disturb the peace of their country, always very quiet, and asked all those present for the occasion and place to stay very calm on the sidelines at their headquarters, from which, moreover, could easily be present at the meeting of the Communists have already been defined by themselves and the public voice of the 'Volunteers death '. They began well, arriving in the square comizianti, gorged of the meal, and some of them recognized the cavalier Vizzini, approached him and greeted him.
After exchanging polite pleasantries, Cavalier Vizzini, not denying the traditional hospitality villalbese, offered to everyone present and to others that in the meantime they approached, cigarettes and a cup of coffee at the nearest bar. He did so about 17 hours.
At this moment arrived with a group of strangers, the local community, Mr. Michele Pantaleone bream Journal, Dr. Li Causi.
villalbese This sends a request to the Cavalier Vizzini correspond to the truth as if they had been whispered, that, since the entire population is completely hostile to their propaganda, the meeting was disturbed by a solemn booed. The Cavalier said Vizzini reassuring in no way whatsoever in this regard and assured them again in the sense that they could hold their rally peacefully without being disturbed by anyone. In addition to a group of communists nissen, Villalba came to the same truck, thought should be advised not to make any reference about people and issues Villalba, including respect for the hospitality that was offered them.
Thus began the rally. The Christian Democrats gathered in a circle with their side of the square, the Communists and those of strangers Villalba, not more than fifty or sixty people at most, on the other side, namely, first to the premises of Banco di Sicilia. The rest of the square, in fact most of the square, was completely deserted.
spoke first the head of the local section, socialist-communist, Michele Pantaleone, former head of the field of Villalba National Fascist Party, followed by another speaker stranger and then took the floor Cause to Dr. Li. These spoke of oppression and liberation, adding: 'Do not be flattered by a tenant (who intended to refer?) That promises you a great body of land to have you with him'. At this point the knight Vizzini, without intent to cause a fight but just to clarify, was to exclaim: 'What is alleged is false!' and would have liked to continue to say that if oppressors there were in Villalba, and all the people would never forget, they were precisely those fascists who now presented themselves before him as a Communist, all in ranks around the speaker, and could document his claim just as these gentlemen were the supporters of the division of the estate Miccichè, they were just that they took the best land, they were just farmers who had given the worst land and for twenty years of Fascism had been shamefully exploited the poor Villalba workers, making them pay twice the fee that was previously paid in a more fair and more honest. There were in fact next to the time the following individuals:
Calogero Vaccarella, fascist of the first hour, the founder of the beam of Villalba, former political secretary and first-fascist mayor of the country;
Peter Immordino, already mentioned before, another founder of the beam Villalba, political secretary to the tune of thirteen years, a centurion of the militia, scarf littorio, already arrested by the Allied Command in Villalba arrival of the troops of liberation and released as a result of generous intercession of the Knight Calogero Vizzini, for its policy straight, all by the people was acclaimed mayor of freedom and endorsements from the mayor of Villalba;
Michele Pantaleone, fascist active and uncompromising, former head of the field National Fascist Party ;
Giuseppe Salvatore Vasta, Fascist soldier, a volunteer in Spain, fighting against communism;
Giovanni Pellegrino, fascist of the first hour and part of the secret police of the Federation of Fighting tow, arrested by the Allies on their arrival in Villalba and released, as Immordino for generous intercession of Cavalier Vizzini;
Calogero Ferrara, the Italian Fascist youth;
Immordino Vincent, son of Peter mentioned before, the head of the handpiece Voluntary Militia for National Security and instructor of premilitari Villalba. These, together with the father, at the approach of the Allies in Villalba, fled heading Valledolmo, when asked villalbesi hospitality in a family living there. Said the father who was their intention to join with the retreating German troops to take refuge in the continent. They were discouraged until he was arrested on Peter Immordino.
was Philip Joseph Giglio, instructor of the young fascists of Villalba;
Domenico Riggi, aberratissimo Fascist Today Communist, a property which was found during a search ordered as a result of accidents, a box of hand grenades.
All the above have brazenly held power for twenty long years in Villalba, and today, the irony of life, form alone, compact, the Socialist-Communist group in this country!
And now we continue. Did not happen, though, that was in a generous heart and mind of the cavalier Vizzini, because the communists, no doubt the locals, fearful of being unmasked by his statements, as one man turned toward the voice coming from square and began shooting wildly. These shots followed the explosion of a hand grenade which caused a general stampede. Up to this point, the speaker was with presence of mind straight on the table where he rose to the harangue, and the cavalier Vizzini, facing the Communists, raising his arms cried: 'Calm down, calm down'. He followed the explosion of another bomb close to the point where the knight trovavasi Vizzini, who took shelter behind the truck back, as we saw then, damage to the radiator. After a few moments the square was almost deserted.
dawned a corporal of the Carabinieri, who immediately turned the knight Vizzini the invitation to call the sergeant to get acquainted with what had happened on the same spot where he had played such a serious and regrettable accident. Would, in fact, could be observed, and clearly, with tracks situated there, which side started the battle, which side had been launched bombs, which the plan of such a diabolical and infernal action so minutely prepared and organized by a group of hooligans and criminals. The sergeant did not believe it appropriate to intervene, there is reason to believe, the appointment and never returned the knight Vizzini, meanwhile, urged the driver of the truck, he strove to give them what he was asked to be able to restart the vehicle in question. The police then removed the pieces of the instruments have appeared abandoned, were found an unexploded bomb and a bomb belt and, at the suggestion of the same cavalier Vizzini, transported everything to the police station.
This done, they walked away from the square, the truck left and senseless uproar was thrown to the most deplorable appreciation of the good people of Villalba, terrified, who has always lived in perfect health of morals, in all times and despite unspeakable suffering.
So much for the facts. "
The source of this report is the unsigned copy, printed, published and distributed clandestinely in three thousand copies in all of Sicily by the same Calogero Vizzini, Mafia boss in the high zone of Caltanissetta, which has its place in the notorious incident in Villalba, where a meeting of the local branch of the Communist Party signal was a brawl between participants armed communists and separatists elements. Vizzini, besides being a mafia boss, was also a leading member of the separatist group, led by the Mafia and inspiring pro-American, known as the Democratic Front Order Siciliano. A full translation of the document signed by Vizzini was submitted to the U.S. authorities with Report JSP-965 .
The political activism of Vincent Immordino was also tested during the Contrada. The inspector general of the Interior Ministry chief Guido Mint, which will be discussed shortly, he said, the hearing of 28 October 1994 Immordino was a communist and that he would discover, later, also his membership of the P2 Lodge .
1.2. Commissioner Joseph Peri
Vincenzo Immordino was superintendent of Trapani in the '70s, the years in which, in the capital Lilybaeum, also operated the Commissioner Giuseppe Peri, an investigator that you do not hear more talk in the future but that in those years played an important role delicate for her insights and for his resourcefulness. Peri was to investigate the terrible events, for which suggested a link between the mafia and terrorism black. This was his idea regarding the plane crash of Montagnalonga near Punta Raisi, in 1972, which killed 108 passengers and 7 crew members. All had discarded the idea of \u200b\u200bthe attack, would prefer a pilot error, but Peri is convinced from the start showed that the plane was blown up: according to the Commissioner, the bomb would go into action only on the soil of 'Punta Raisi airport, but the plane is known, had to delay landing to give way to another plane that had taken precedence from the control tower. The bomb exploded at high altitude and is therefore for this reason, according to Peri, have also caused the death of the aggressor. Peri formula this hypothesis in a report sent to the investigating judge in Catania Sebastian Hunt, owner of the investigations, but this relationship was never even placed in the file of the investigation. Peri
saw links between the Mafia and subversion in the murder of two policemen also black Falcetta Salvatore and Carmine Apuzzo , which occurred on the night of January 26, 1976 at Alcamo Marina, near Trapani, and even the seizure of Luigi Corleone , father of Ignazio Salvo . Peri was largely result of his conviction because it was shown that in those years, Trapani, the work of extremists in the spring of 1974, in fact, at the foot of Erice, it was discovered a paramilitary training camp.
For these ideas are so special and, in a sense, uncomfortable and dangerous, Peri was considered by all a visionary and he was transferred to Palermo, relegated, however, in a second-floor office and without any investigative assignment. It 'the same Marcello Immordino, the son of the superintendent, to break a lance in favor of Peri: "I think your intuition was right" - support - "Trapani was In those years the crossroads of trafficking. There were powerful mafia figures. There were Masonic lodges. There were secret service rerouted. The local mafia could count on important links with the United States, where there were many communities of immigrants from Trapani. Giuseppe Peri, however, failed to go beyond intuition and to gather evidence to support his thesis. I think his mistake was to isolate themselves. He worked alone. He did not speak with his superiors, not consulted with anyone. If he had worked in synergy with others, might be able to realize all their efforts and find the necessary evidence. Even if, however, do not think it was the fault of Joseph Peri. They were difficult years. The political and social situation was always unstable. There was no collaboration between investigators.
But back to the figure of quaestor Immordino. From direct supervisor of the Commissioner Peri, Immordino never does not endorse the theory of the latter on the links between the Mafia and right-wing subversion. On 17 December 1974, during a hearing before the Parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission, Immordino except, indeed, outright the possibility of links between mafia and the neo-fascist terrorists. "Nothing is as found in the province of Trapani, in order to create a link between environment and mafia plots black ", declared bluntly Immordino .
In 1976 Immordino becomes superintendent of Reggio Calabria and knows Joseph Impallomeni , on arrival a few weeks before. Immordino leave the police station in the capital of Calabria in late 1979 to become superintendent of Palermo.
And here begins the story that we're going to deal with.
2. ACCUSATION
2.1. The origins of the conflict between Vincent and Bruno Contrada Immordino
After the murder of the head of the Squadra Mobile di Palermo Boris Giuliano, which occurred July 21
Coronas - "After the assassination of Boris Giuliano, head of the Flying Squad Palermo, who was killed July 21, 1979, was the superintendent of Palermo, John Epifanio, to advocate on behalf of Contrada as head of the squad interim because Contrada was an excellent officer. I knew the value of both man and the official Contrada, and for this, in my capacity as Chief of Police, invited him personally and he agreed to accept the spirit of service that had always been. "
Contrada is practically acclaim acclaimed new head of the squad and did not have time to cross again the threshold of his old office who goes on the trail of the killers of Julian.
On December 6, 1979 to the Chief Epifanio happens Vincenzo Immordino . The February 1, 1980 Contrada Criminalpol back to Palermo, leaving the post of leader of the squad to Joseph Impallomeni .
E 'the beginning of a hectic time. Immordino Impallomeni and begin to reorganize the squad according to their logic, as they had when they both served at the police headquarters in Reggio Calabria
is shown by the testimony to that effect, the hearing on January 27, 1995, by Francis Sirleo , senior executive of the State Police who, in 1976, ie when Immordino became superintendent of Reggio Calabria, was deputy chief Squad of the capital calabrese
SIRLEO - "Immordino had the habit of always affect different organs and not always responsible for things. fractionated ever investigations. This did not create harmony between the different sectors and there were frictions. Just arrived in Reggio Calabria Immordino appear immediately intend to replace the head of the squad with Impallomeni Celona, \u200b\u200bbut the prosecutor Reggio's Republic did not agree and did not want. So Immordino created a sort of flying squad 'outside' headed Impallomeni to deal with areas of Palmi and Locri, and the Flying Squad led by Celona was left to deal with the territory of Reggio. Then, after about a year, the Flying Squad 'outside' was abolished and Impallomeni went on to direct a District Police in Gioia Tauro. "
arrived in Palermo, Immordino try to replicate the script already present in Calabria land, once again counting on the participation of Impallomeni. The first thing he does is suppress the anti-Mafia Section and Section Catturandi: the latter becomes just a team, and was entrusted to the Commissioner Renato Gentile. On April 12, 1980 is the popular search carried out by team led by Gentile in the house of boss Totò Inzerillo (we talk about it in Chapter The irruption of the Commissioner Gentile ). The following are the resentments and misunderstandings to which we account in the chapter just mentioned.
Police of Palermo in the atmosphere becomes increasingly unbearable. Much of the Palermo squad does not like the shuffling of cards and implemented by Immordino Impallomeni and rally around Bruno Contrada, who represents the continuity of the tradition of the office, as well as the inseparable alter ego of the late Boris Giuliano and never forgotten. The personality and experience of Bruno Contrada, the undisputed hero in the eyes of his men, they collide with the methods and with the character of Impallomeni, representing the discomfort of an entire office. The most effective description of the atmosphere stifling and the character of the Impallomeni provides hearing on January 24, 1995, the then head of the Investigative Section of the Flying Squad in Palermo William Incalza :
Incalza - "There were conflicts with Impallomeni culminating with profanity and epithets. He worked in a arraffazzonata, such 'miettici to chiddu, miettici to chistu relations' ('Put that, put this in your reports,' nda) . And I did not like this. "
not even like a lot of his colleagues. The same Incalza, Antonio De Luca and Victor Vasquez (Deputy Head of the Flying Squad), three names, along with Contrada and Julian, had the story of the Flying Squad in Palermo, requests a transfer. In particular, Vasquez went to return to the Contrada Criminalpol Palermo, while De Luca was appointed deputy head of cabinet in its place. He remembers hearing the same De Luca 28 October 1994:
DE LUCA - "With the advent of Immordino, what he called the 'old police', that we were discarded. Immordino wanted to demonstrate that they have made a clean sweep because, according to him, after the death of Julian the Flying Squad Palermo was not worth anything. Immordino In fact, we escaped the blitz on 5 May 1980 and a second operation in late May of 1980, against the group Sollena. Impallomeni (...) did not have our esteem and Our confidence was a figure who could not tolerate non-crystalline as the successor of a hero as honest and adamant Boris Giuliano. In many wanted to leave the squad in protest and we talked with Contrada, who advised us to stay well because, a lot, May 30, 1980 Immordino would be retired. I asked, however, the transfer before the month of May, but the doctor Pachino, Immordino chief of staff, told me to wait. Going back to (...) Impallomeni, he told me that the Mafia did not understand anything and gave me carte blanche, so a lot of credit were actually mine. "
Even Francesco Federico , one of the officers leaned on which Immordino admits, hearing on January 24, 1995 :
FEDERICO - "With Impallomeni We had different approaches to the investigation. There were constant arguments and disagreements investigative activity. Bruno Contrada, however, was appreciated by all, there was never any suspicion on him by anyone in all my activities, both in the squad and as a director of various Commissioners in Palermo, Bruno Contrada never told me to encourage in any way or that this fugitive. "
Inspector Salvatore Nalbone walks the same line. hearing on January 20, 1995 states:
Nalbone - " Bruno Contrada was a great . Impallomeni His successor was not as good as him. "
Remember, again, Ottavio Fiorita, then inspector employed by the Mobile Chamber Catturandi of Palermo, the hearing on January 31, 1995:
BLOOM - "Vasquez, De Luca and Incalza asked why the transfer did not want to work with Impallomeni. They considered him incompetent. But none of us liked Impallomeni. He had a surly, rude and ways of doing things was not prepared. He had lived in the squad with others. Do not see him favorably. "
But Impallomeni is backed by the quaestor Immordino.
2.2. The blitz of May 5, 1980
Mystery? Yellow? Intrigue? None of that. Just as it emerged from the process and how anyone would not want to force things reach a certain conclusion of all the evidence, a story which, like all the others that have formed the unlikely content Pandora's box that was the process the same could have been explained and accepted for what it was, without being there to dissipate time and taxpayers' money to try to see the spectrum of Yorick even where there was and could not be there. In fact, maybe someone had decided to pick up the skull of the unfortunate Danish monarch to stroke and be in doubt come in the opposite direction ...
The famous blitz of May 5, 1980 is the outcome of investigations into the Mafia group spatula-Inzerillo-Gambino-Di Maggio, the links between the Sicilian Mafia and the Mafia and the U.S. on the same Michele Sindona. Investigations had been undertaken and conducted by Bruno Contrada and Victor Vasquez. At one point, the Chief Immordino decided to create a working group apart, divided into three subgroups, each for a tranche investigation. Immordino he gave orders that everything happen without the knowledge of districts and of his most trusted associates, but for some reason that has nothing to do (as we shall see shortly) with suspicion or mistrust of any kind. It was just a normal office counter, as it happens to hundreds every day all over the world, which was later magnified to build upon in the habit of Contrada friend of mobsters on charges that he's sewn . A coat of Gogol by the wrong measures. A license that Contrada, a victim of injustice and social uproar as the Rosary chiarchiaro of Pirandello, has never done anything to deserve and that, unlike the immortal character created by the great Girgenti, always has, and rightly so sacrosanct, refused. A
remind all with precision is still Francesco Federico, who was named one of the officials from Immordino part of the parallel investigation:
FEDERICO - "I alone was one of three subgroups. Then I was called by Immordino together and Emanuele Salerno. We were like the Carbonari, Immordino we imposed maximum secrecy and confidentiality with all our colleagues of the old squad but does not explain why. Immordino gave me a fortnight's time to report. After a fortnight I I told him that we had not yet finished, the report was deficient, we had no evidence against all defendants: puntualizzai that we would have a bad impression with the court if we had made arrests, which then could not be validated because of the lack of evidence. I have always felt obliged to make an arrest only when I had all the elements of some fact, in eight years squad, I have not 'suffered' the release of a criminal arrest by me. Immordino told it would be better informed of all the investigating magistrate Paolo Borsellino and the commissioner told me to continue the investigation of a material to provide a more complete Borsellino. (...) But Immordino betrayed that commitment and ended up ordering the arrests that he wanted without consulting Borsellino. And so I refused to sign the report. Immordino I took with my commitment to sign the report only if it had been sent to the judge Borsellino, and it did not. (...) on this whole affair I have made a report to Dr. Guido Zecca (ministerial inspector will be sent from Rome to shed light on these tensions within the squad in Palermo, see infra the section on defense, nda) . In this report, I explained to the Mint at the end because I would not sign the report. That is not because I agree with the content but because I disagree about the use they wished to do: I was afraid that Impallomeni handle this report after I had presented him. I did not trust Impallomeni. "
the memories of Frederick is also flanked by those of William Incalza , then, as we saw, director of the Investigative Section of the Flying Squad. In the same hearing on January 24, 1995 Incalza recalls
Incalza - "In the context of finding Spatola Inzerillo-Gambino-Di-May I researched on two telephone users, one headed by the dealer Rosario Inzerillo, the other headed by Vittorio Mangano. In late April of 1980 I had a relationship in which 24 people denunziai but Impallomeni I had made a big hurry. I thought that the My relationship was independent, but then I discovered that my back had been linked to a broader investigation. Just days after the blitz of May 5, 1980 I learned that Immordino had formed a working group in part, a group that did nothing but exploit the earlier work conducted by Contrada, by myself and others. "
The blitz is therefore in a wide operation directed in particular against the mafia group headed households Spatola, Inzerillo, Di Maggio and Gambino. It ', in practice, the response of the police murder of the captain of Carabinieri Emanuele Basile, Monroe happened in the first two days, May 3. Frederick Still remember:
FEDERICO - " On May 5, 1980 we were summoned to the barracks Lungari. (...) For blitz Immordino had come by the Police in Reggio Calabria Dr. Celona, \u200b\u200ba man of his confidence (as usual ...). That night I, for serious family issues, I needed to be found from my family and I asked Celona to persuade Immordino Impallomeni and so I enable it to phone home, even though we were now on alert for the blitz imminent. In addition, I asked Celona (and De Luke) and to convince Immordino Impallomeni not trigger the operation because, as I said, I considered the arrests prematurely for lack of evidence. In response, I received a threat: if I'd gone, I would have shot at the guard house. To which I replied that, in this case, I would have shot him first in Impallomeni. "
Tension is very high. Lungari not only to the barracks, I mean. Even in the classroom, while Frederick recalls the details of that convulsive night. He's coming off one side of the affair that prosecutors did not know. The figures of Immordino and Impallomeni, considered until then Roland and Rinaldo against the "dark" Contrada, are suffering of hard knocks. Fred continues:
FEDERICO - "Since Immordino Impallomeni and did not want to listen to reason, I gave them my report is not signed because he takes their fatherhood and responsibility. Yet I pay the consequences: I have suffered investigations for this reason.'s not all. To prevent the report was later tampered with, inserted into the last line two periods on the facts of that night and did a little drawing to Lungari, a kind of hieroglyphics. I did not know anything. I do not know if my report, which denounced Philip Marquis along with eighteen other people, which has resulted in the ratio of 55. " Even
William Incalza the atmosphere very tense that night, starting even from the morning:
Incalza - "On the morning of that Sunday, May 5, 1980, I went to the office as often happened. Impallomeni told me to return in the afternoon and I did so, along with other colleagues. We are all in vain the end of a conversation between Immordino and Impallomeni. I went home but I was taken a few hours later to go to the barracks Lungari, where there was agitation. I wanted to call home to warn I would not be back, but I was not allowed. They gave us envelopes with the names of people to stop. Until that moment I did not know what to do. Among those I recognized some names included in my report. "
The blitz clicks. The arrests are made. The tests are not sufficient, just as he had expected Francesco Federico. What remains are the poisons. That will come straight to poison the air in the process Contrada distance of about ten years.
2.3. The letter from the Chief of Police to Immordino Coronas
In the letter to Chief of Police Immordino refers to a "physical and psychological wear and tear" and a "state of tension and legitimate fear" that would have forced Contrada to "choose the path of inactivity on a substantial large and small business crime, as if to decant certain situations on their own murderous . In support of this attitude based on fear and immobility, the public Ingroia ministries and Morvillo took the testimony of Commissioner Dear Renato, but vague and specious as his words have been demonstrated in the chapter devoted to the story, entitled, precisely, The irruption of the Commissioner Gentile .
In fact, the fear was there (I defy anyone to not have to horde in situations like the one that was created in Palermo in the late 70s), but certainly not the inaction. It is shown by the investigations conducted by Bruno Contrada and his men, leading to the famous report of February 7, 1981 they hold responsible for the murder of Boris Giuliano and dozens of other gangsters: on the basis of that report, the investigating magistrate Paolo Purse stand out 15 arrest warrants.
Fear certainly never deadlock, then. But it is clear that the death of Julian had deeply affected everyone, and especially the very close friend, a close collaborator, the "twin" Bruno Contrada. We let these words to describe the moment. Hearing on July 12, 1994 Contrada recalls
CONTRADA - "Immordino The Commissioner wrote in his report to the Interior Ministry that I had suffered a deterioration in mental and physical death of Julian. It 'was very weak, because I was destroyed when he was killed Giuliano destroyed the physical, psychological, volitional terms. I had to really use all my strength to keep going, because Boris Giuliano was my brother. "
E 'in the same district does not deny, even to admit and paint stroke clean and precise, the' existence of a climate of confusion, confusion and fear subsequent murder of Boris Giuliano. And who could deny it? But it is an offense to undergo a psychological and emotional collapse after an event so tragic as the death of a person you consider most of a brother? "It 'really so strange and disturbing reveal a very human reaction and inevitable after being hit so hard? can turn into a movement of the accused? What is more, after the initial shock, Contrada went back to work, as confirmed by all those who helped him during that time. Apply on the testimony of the inspector Salvatore Nalbone hearing on January 20, 1995:
Nalbone - "Bruno Contrada was a great cop. When he returned to lead the squad after the death of Giuliano, lifted the moral at all. Other than slowing down! "
With Contrada, therefore, the Flying Squad, whipped so hard by the death of Boris Giuliano, back to work. And the fruits of this work will be seen in the aforementioned report prepared and signed by the same district on February 7 1981. A report, as we said, on the file of the process but virtually unrecognized by the courts at every opportunity. All charges, though specious, needs a foundation: every exculpatory evidence comes only from ignorance of reality or, at worst, the attempt to promote art to an old colleague. Never mind that Contrada has given a decisive impetus to investigations into the death of Giuliano the commissioner Immordino (obviously dead at the time of this process and not, therefore, to say how things really went) may not have been wrong, can not have acted as it did only a personal matter or because he used to behave that way. Bruno Contrada had to, and must, beware: it is almost a mandatory precept. And to hell with documents and reports, however, is not "dead" but very much alive and present in the process with their indelible ink, establishes beyond doubt and doubt that Contrada and his men did their duty to the end. How
remembers Antonio De Luca in the aforementioned hearing on October 28, 1994, countering the allegations made by Marcello Immordino, the son of Vincenzo:
DE LUCA - "Marcello said that Immordino Contrada, after death Julian said: 'We are here to kill us all calm.' Yes, I said, but out of prudence, because we had to figure out where it came from the hand that killed Giuliano. Certainly the murder had been decided by big boss , more minds, and not by stray dogs. Immordino son did not understand anything, so much so that there were, after the death of Giuliano, sweeps and successes of the old guard of the Flying Squad in Palermo, Contrada ie, I, Vasquez, D'Antone, and so on. Certainly not from Immordino father or Impallomeni. "
2.4. The inspection conducted by the Ministerial Guido Zecca
May 30 1980 Vincent Immordino ceases from the office of quaestor Palermo, retires and is replaced by Giuseppe Nicolicchia . The new Quaestor shows a markedly different from his predecessor and re-evaluates the old guard, as told by De Luca Toni still hearing on October 28, 1994:
DE LUCA - "The June 1 Joseph Nicolicchia officially takes office Chief of Police of Palermo and says, 'two months and you will be the new head of the squad'. Rather than head to Impallomeni, who was manager of Mobile, was in fact Nicolicchia head to me and Bruno Contrada Impallomeni because he did not know how well we the reality of Palermo. "
The promise of Nicolicchia not turn into De Luca and reality will never become head of the squad as he longed for in 1981 and will be asked move to Milan, where he lived, from the professional point of view, an interim period. E 'himself to tell the hearing referred to above:
DE LUCA - "At the police headquarters in Milan doing things of little importance: I was involved in theft, complaints against unknown and so on. Criminalpol Until I went to Milan for intervention Falcone, who pointed out that my name Bruno Siclari, then deputy prosecutor of the Republic of Milan, who was undefeated in investigations of the Mafia was looking for collaborators and experts in the field. But it was also a key intervention Contrada, who was directing the Criminalpol of Palermo. Contrada was to speak well of me to the Chief of Police Coronas. And so it was that I had the opportunity to go do things that I liked and for which I had experience in Palermo. It was thanks to Falcone and Contrada that I rilanciai professionally. "
But if Mr De Luca manages to find the size that is most suitable for them, the echoes of turmoil and turbulence of the police headquarters in Palermo cross soon Scylla and Charybdis, and arrive in Rome. The Chief of Police Giovanni Rinaldo Coronas decides to see things clearly and in June 1981 in Palermo send the Chief Inspector General of the Ministry of the Interior, Guido Zecca . But not only do a normal inspection activity, but to get more detailed information on the work of Immordino Quaestor and, above all, a specific reason that the same Coronas recalled hearing on March 21, 1995:
Coronas - "I decided to send an inspector to Palermo because Guido Zecca clarify why and how the head of the Mobile Impallomeni had erased the name of Michele Sindona complaint from their relationship."
3. DEFENCE
The blitz of May 5, 1980 is not an expression of distrust of Bruno Contrada. And 'only a police operation conducted in slavish observance of the company's award-winning style Immordino-Impallomeni. Or see the Ptolemy everywhere and revolutionize things in a way that would only define Copernican understatement. Remember the words of the deputy head of the Flying Squad of Reggio Calabria Francesco Sirleo? "Immordino had the habit of always affect different organs and not always responsible for things. Fractionated ever investigations. This did not create harmony between the different sectors and there were frictions" . Or "In Reggio Calabria Immordino created a sort of flying squad 'outside' headed Impallomeni to deal with areas of Palmi and Locri, and the Flying Squad led by Celona was left to deal with the territory of Reggio." This was what also made May 5, 1980. For reasons linked to its professional staff DNA, not to distrust or suspicion against Bruno Contrada. Suspect, moreover, in that famous letter to the Head Police Coronas, Immordino could outsource. But he did not. Neither on that occasion nor in others. Nor to other colleagues. Remember, in fact, the chief Guido Zecca, hearing on October 28, 1994:
BRAND - "They were all unanimous in saying that Dr. Contrada was an excellent officer and did absolutely no one, certain assumptions of suspicion about him. "
None. Therefore, neither Immordino. As demonstrated by the subsequent declaration of Mint:
BRAND - " Contrada illegal activity? Please, absolutely, never! "
Immordino not only never complained of Contrada, but even weaves his praises. It 's still in mint remember:
BRAND - " Dr. Contrada was no collusion, please! Even the commissioner Immordino Contrada praised me personally. (...) The same Immordino at the end of the note sent to the Chief of Police on 11 May 1980, had already praised Contrada the first time. "
And hearing on March 21 1995, the prefect Coronas, in 1980 was Chief of Police, after having praised Contrada with great fanfare ( "Bruno Contrada has always been the most, even more than the maximum qualifying service as an officer of great experience. The Contrada assessment to the Ministry of Interior was the highest, namely 100, plus 5 points of special mention and praise maximum. Total: 105. A score that almost no one had ever managed to achieve. ALL esteemed Dr. Bruno Contrada. Everyone, both inside and out of the Police " ) said
Coronas - " I never had any suspicions about Contrada relations with the Mafia. Neither I nor anyone else. Neither the commissioner Immordino said anything to that effect. No one ever did. "
BRAND - "Dr. Contrada did not want to sign a complaint that is not considered complete yet, but Immordino holding, press ... Contrada pointed out to Immordino that many police informers had been made out and therefore there must have been leaks from Squad, and Contrada himself was concerned about his safety. "
This strange rush Immordino is better explained by Tonino De Luca, always hearing of October 28, 1994:
DE LUCA - " just wanted Immordino to impress, as he put it, 'arresting fifty mafia'. For this he began to press to speed up investigations. Even I, one morning, I found my office literally cleaned up the files on a spatula and files relating to several murders of which I was dealing with: this material had been taken without my knowledge to Immordino. I then assured the commissioner that the investigation went on spatula, but he would not listen to reason Immordino and assigned the same investigation with other officials, certainly inexperienced, removing them to me. The same thing he did Contrada and Vasquez. In short, Immordino did his best to steal the investigating officials of the spatula to us old furniture and put it aside. Why? I have already said. Only because he wanted to impress, but not because I suspect that, Contrada, D'Antone Vasquez or we were in collusion with the Mafia. "
's still Mint to explain the real reasons why he wanted to keep Immordino Contrada and his men more reliable operation in the dark:
BRAND - "Immordino had given directives because the knowledge of everything happening just because Contrada, Immordino second, Contrada delayed to submit its findings citing the presence of gaps in its investigations, but there were no other motives or suspects. "
is the real reason why Contrada wore clothes, unusual for him of Quintus Fabius Maximus. This explains why procrastinate. Certainly not to defend the mafia, but only because they thought that a little 'more time would have allowed further deepen its investigation and take possession of a greater number of elements. Immordino, On the contrary, it had fallen into the role of quick brown fox jumped. And the lazy dog \u200b\u200bContrada and its feared that arise from an unexpected blitz were already, in fact, come to light with the mysterious deaths of several police informants, that had created in Contrada suspect that there were strange leaks from the police. It was obvious that Contrada wanted to use the classic tread carefully: even so that the same lead, already abundantly used by representatives of the institutions against Cosa Nostra, he went once again to score more points and guaranteed to please the mob. Plausible reasons, particularly given the situation of extreme tension of that sad period. Reasons that can not hide, if not in front of eyes that looks ammantino of pretexts, no second thoughts.
part of that investigative activity, Contrada had investigated also on the involvement of Michele Sindona with the Mafia and had not spared any effort and commitment. E 'was accused of deleting the name of Sindona its relationship to report, but this is not true, why would he do that? It has never made the slightest mention of any link between Sindona and Contrada, has never found any evidence of facts which might suggest an attitude to "soft" in the same district against the bank or have proven links between district and others who might have a real interest to cover Sindona. What really happened is clear, as we have seen, already mentioned by the words of the prefect Coronas, and at the hearing stated that the reason urged him to send Guido Mint in Palermo: explain why the head of the squad Impallomeni Joseph, and not Bruno Contrada, had erased the name from its relationship Sindona complaint.
And in the ratio of Contrada's name appeared prominently Sindona is also confirmed by the then director of the Investigative Section of the Flying Squad in Palermo, William Incalza , in the aforementioned hearing on January 24, 1995:
Incalza - "I learned that the report of the Contrada Sindona name was there."
We need to repeat it again? Contrada Impallomeni but it was not to remove the name from your Sindona report. A Impallomeni Contrada with whom he had had some disagreements and which did not share certain lines of action. Including just that we're talking about. And, as you did not adhere to the strategies of Impallomeni, but endorsed by the quaestor Immordino, Contrada was put aside. With his chief regret, but of all who knew him and respected him. Apply throughout the reaction Girolamo Di Giovanni , then prefect of Palermo, still remembered by Guido Zecca hearing on October 28, 1994:
BRAND - "The prefect Girolamo Di Giovanni Contrada praised and complained that it was been set aside for that operation on 5 May 1980. "
Francesco Borgese, assistant chief vicar of Palermo - hearing on September 5, 1994;
Victor Vasquez, director of the Investigative Section of the Flying Squad in Palermo - hearing on January 10, 1995;
Caramel Emanuele - hearing on June 23, 1995; Ferdinand
Pachino - hearing on October 5, 1994;
which emerge from the behavior of Immordino, the reasons for the contrast between Immordino and Contrada Contrada and proper act.
