Ministry of Justice excluded from Paolo Piccolo murder trial

An Avellino judge has excluded the Italian Ministry of Justice from the murder trial of Paolo Piccolo, a 26-year-old inmate who died after a brutal assault in the Bellizzi Irpino prison.

During the preliminary hearing, GUP Antonio Sicuranza accepted the state's argument that no direct responsibility from Ministry employees was established in the indictment. While the Ministry is excluded from this criminal proceeding, the court noted that the victims' families may still seek civil damages in a separate civil court.

The incident occurred in October 2024, when a group of inmates allegedly attacked Piccolo in his cell, causing severe head injuries and a perforated lung. After spending nearly a year in a vegetative state, Piccolo passed away in October 2025.

The prosecution is pursuing ten defendants for aggravated murder, a charge involving cruelty that carries a potential life sentence. Three defendants have already received first-instance convictions for attempted murder. The judge also rejected requests for a summary trial (rito abbreviato) for several defendants due to the severity of the charges.