Gelsomina Verde
Encyclopedia
Gelsomina Verde was an innocent victim of the Camorra
who was tortured and subsequently murdered during the Scampia feud
in the city of Naples
on November 21, 2004. She was 22 years old.
Gelsomina, a leather factory worker was totally alien to the activities of the Camorra. She was abducted and tortured by members of the Di Lauro clan
, in an effort to make her disclose the whereabouts of her former boyfriend, a Scissionisti clan
member, Gennaro Notturno. Gelsomina and Gennaro had broken up only weeks prior to her abduction.
An autopsy conducted on her corpse revealed that she had been killed with three shots to the neck after enduring hours of torture. The killers then set her body on fire inside her car, in order to protect them from the "evil eye".
The death of an innocent girl caused widespread public revulsion and led to a major crackdown by the authorities. The governor of the Campania
region (of which Naples is the capital) Antonio Bassolino
said: "This challenge must be met and the state must pay attention." Two days later, Home Minister Giuseppe Pisanu
dispatched 325 extra police to ther city which already has a higher ratio of police to people than any other in the country. It was Gelsomina Verde's murder that finally led the Italian public to realize that the feud had gotten out of hand, and contributed towards its end on September 2005.
The family of Gelsomina Verde was constituted a civil party in criminal proceedings that ended on April 4, 2006. It resulted in the life imprisonment of Ugo De Lucia, considered to be one of the most brutal killers in the Di Lauro clan. Another Di Lauro clan member, Pietro Esposito who decided to collaborate with Italian Justice and testified against his former cohorts, received a prison term of seven years and four months for his involvement in the murder.
On December 13, 2008, Cosimo Di Lauro
, was sentenced to life imprisonment for ordering the murder of Gelsomina Verde.
Camorra
The Camorra is a Mafia-type criminal organization, or secret society, originating in the region of Campania and its capital Naples in Italy. It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 18th century.-Background:...
who was tortured and subsequently murdered during the Scampia feud
Scampia feud
The Scampia feud was a feud between the Camorra gangs in the neapolitan quartiere of Scampia and it broke out in 2004 and 2005...
in the city of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
on November 21, 2004. She was 22 years old.
Gelsomina, a leather factory worker was totally alien to the activities of the Camorra. She was abducted and tortured by members of the Di Lauro clan
Di Lauro clan
The Di Lauro clan is an Italian crime clan, part of the Camorra in Naples. The clan operates in the neighbourhoods of Secondigliano, Scampìa, Miano, Marianella, Piscinola, and in the adjacent municipalities of Casavatore, Melito, Arzano, Villaricca and Mugnano...
, in an effort to make her disclose the whereabouts of her former boyfriend, a Scissionisti clan
Scissionisti di Secondigliano
The Scissionisti di Secondigliano is a Camorra clan from the Secondigliano district of Naples, headed by Raffaele Amato and Cesare Pagano. They are also known as "Spagnoli" because of their endless trips ferrying cocaine from Galicia in Spain...
member, Gennaro Notturno. Gelsomina and Gennaro had broken up only weeks prior to her abduction.
An autopsy conducted on her corpse revealed that she had been killed with three shots to the neck after enduring hours of torture. The killers then set her body on fire inside her car, in order to protect them from the "evil eye".
The death of an innocent girl caused widespread public revulsion and led to a major crackdown by the authorities. The governor of the Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
region (of which Naples is the capital) Antonio Bassolino
Antonio Bassolino
Antonio Bassolino, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI is an Italian politician. He has been President of the Campania region from 2000 to 2010.-Biography:Bassolino was born in Afragola, Campania...
said: "This challenge must be met and the state must pay attention." Two days later, Home Minister Giuseppe Pisanu
Giuseppe Pisanu
Giuseppe Pisanu is an Italian politician, longtime member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Christian Democracy and then for Forza Italia...
dispatched 325 extra police to ther city which already has a higher ratio of police to people than any other in the country. It was Gelsomina Verde's murder that finally led the Italian public to realize that the feud had gotten out of hand, and contributed towards its end on September 2005.
The family of Gelsomina Verde was constituted a civil party in criminal proceedings that ended on April 4, 2006. It resulted in the life imprisonment of Ugo De Lucia, considered to be one of the most brutal killers in the Di Lauro clan. Another Di Lauro clan member, Pietro Esposito who decided to collaborate with Italian Justice and testified against his former cohorts, received a prison term of seven years and four months for his involvement in the murder.
On December 13, 2008, Cosimo Di Lauro
Cosimo Di Lauro
Cosimo Di Lauro is an Italian Camorrista and former acting boss of the Di Lauro clan from Naples. Due to his flamboyant nature and passion for designer clothes, he earned the nickname "The Designer Don"...
, was sentenced to life imprisonment for ordering the murder of Gelsomina Verde.