Guardian Weekly

Families of mafia victims wait for justice

Clinging to his son’s coffin, Vincenzo Agostino solemnly swore that he would not cut his hair or beard until justice was served. It was 10 August 1989, five days after two mafia hitmen on a motorbike had killed Antonino Agostino, a police officer, and his wife, Ida, who was five months pregnant.

The couple were shot dead in broad daylight on the seafront promenade in Villagrazia di Carini, a town about 30km from Palermo. Vincenzo witnessed his son’s agony as the killers fired a full magazine of bullets at him. He saw his daughter-in-law, who was shot in the heart, move closer to her husband in a vain attempt to console him.

Last month, a judge released a report revealing how Antonino Agostino was murdered because he was investigating fugitive mobsters. One of the killers, the mafia boss Nino Madonia, was sentenced to life in prison in

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Guardian Weekly

Guardian Weekly2 min readPolitical Ideologies
‘Somme Without The Generals’
The local elections on 2 May ha ve long been regarded as a moment of high peril for Rishi Sunak, with the results likely to anticipate his party’s fate at the next election. The Tories have already priced in heavy losses in the council elections, wit
Guardian Weekly3 min readPolitical Ideologies
Poll Prejudice
With more people set to vote in elections than at any time in history, 2024 is being touted as a test of democracies’ strength around the world. But one thing remains in noticeably short supply – female leadership candidates. Analysis from the Guardi
Guardian Weekly2 min read
The GuardianView
Founded 1821 Independently owned by the Scott Trust The world’s largest elections have begun in India, amid claims the race has already been won. If Narendra Modi were to secure a third term with a big parliamentary majority, his achievement would ma

Related Books & Audiobooks