Ms Lea Garofalo was born into the ‘Ndrangheta mafia in Calabria, Italy. She fell in love with Mr Carlo Cosco, a cocaine trafficker in the ‘Ndrangheta. In 1996, Mr Cosco and some members of his family were imprisoned for drug trafficking. Ms Garofalo decided to divorce Mr Cosco, but Mr Cosco did not accept this. Several years later, she referred Mr Cosco and his associates to the authorities for their involvement in trafficking cocaine and a murder committed by Mr Cosco and his brother. She also gave authorities valuable details regarding a civil war between two ‘Ndrangheta families. Ms Garofalo and her daughter Ms Denise Cosco were then put into witness protection following her cooperation with authorities, however they left witness protection in 2006.
In November 2009, Mr Cosco lured Ms Garofalo and their daughter to Milan on the pretence that they would discuss Ms Cosco’s university education. Ms Garofalo was then kidnapped, tortured and killed by Mr Cosco and his brothers Messrs Vito Cosco and Giuseppe Cosco. Ms Garofalo’s body was then dissolved in acid. The Cosco brothers were aided and abetted by Messrs Carmine Venturino, Rosario Curcio and Massimo Sabatino in the commission of these offences. The criminals then reportedly waited for 3 days until Ms Garofalo’s body had been completely dissolved. Her fate was only discovered several years later.
Corte Suprema di Cassazione
The applicants’ appeals were rejected and the applicants were ordered to pay the costs of the appeal as well as the expenses of the civil parties to the proceedings. The defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment with daytime isolation.
Mr Carlo Cosco was born on 11 July 1970 in Petilia Policastro, Calabria, Italy.
Mr Vito Cosco, also known as ‘Sergio, was born on 28 May 1969 in Petilia Policastro, Calabria, Italy.
Mr Giuseppe Cosco, also known as ‘Smith’, was born on 22 September 1964 in Petilia Policastro, Calabria, Italy.
Mr Rosario Curcio was born on 29 August 1976 in Petilia Policastro, Calabria, Italy.
The Court was not able to determine Mr Curcio's involvement in the kidnapping of the victim but found that he had been involved in disposing of Ms Garofalo's body.
Mr Massimo Sabatino was born on 6 November 1973 in Pagani, Campania, Italy.
Mr Carmine Venturino was born on 5 November 1978 in Crotone, Calabria, Italy.
Codice penale art 575
Murder
The defendants were ordered to pay EUR 5,500 to Mses Marisa Garofalo and Miletta Santina and EUR 4,500 to Ms Denise Cosco.
Codice penale art 575
Murder
The defendants were ordered to pay EUR 5,500 to Mses Marisa Garofalo and Miletta Santina and EUR 4,500 to Ms Denise Cosco.
Codice penale art 575
Murder
Information about the verdict against Mr Giuseppe Cosco and the sentence, if any, was not available at the time of writing.
Codice penale art 575
Murder
The defendants were ordered to pay EUR 5,500 to Mses Marisa Garofalo and Miletta Santina and EUR 4,500 to Ms Denise Cosco.
Codice penale art 575
Murder
The defendants were ordered to pay EUR 5,500 to Mses Marisa Garofalo and Miletta Santina and EUR 4,500 to Ms Denise Cosco.
Codice penale art 575
Murder
The defendants were ordered to pay EUR 5,500 to Mses Marisa Garofalo and Miletta Santina and EUR 4,500 to Ms Denise Cosco.
Corte Suprema di Cassazione
Cass, 18 December 2014, n 14352014
This case is significant because of the prominent role of two women, Ms Lea Garofalo and Ms Denise Cosco, in taking on the ‘Ndrangheta mafia. Despite being born into the ‘Ndrangheta mafia, Ms Garofalo did not accept the traditional code of silence demanded within the mafia. Both women have become symbols of bravery in Italy.