Lombardy Governor and former
interior minister Roberto Maroni said Tuesday that he backed the
supreme court for saying ailing former Cosa Nostra boss of
bosses Totò Riina is entitled to a dignified death and so a
Bologna detention review court should re-examine a defence plea
for him to be moved to house arrest or have his life sentence
shortened.
"I don't agree with those who say Riina must die in jail
because he is Riina," Maroni said.
"Riina is the boss of bosses, but there is a level of
humanity that must prevail when someone is about to die."
Maroni later clarified his thinking after some criticism,
saying "I didn't say free him but only that I accept the
Cassation Court's ruling on a human level".
The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement accused Maroni of
"quibbling" and said Riina should "stay in jail where he will
get all the care he needs".
The head of the Italian magistrates union ANM, Eugenio
Albamonte, said he agreed with Maroni, saying the Cassation
Court recommendation was a "sign that the State is stronger than
the Mafia".
Albamonte said the Italian judiciary could be "proud" of such
rulings, while also saying that his thoughts went out to the
relatives of Riina's victims.
National anti-mafia and anti-terror prosecutor Franco Roberti
meanwhile said that Riina "must stay in jail because he is still
the head of the Mafia".
Tina Montinaro, the widow of slain anti-Mafia judge Giovanni
Falcone's chief bodyguard, said Riina did not deserve a
dignified death because he "did not give my late husband any
dignity".
Other relatives of those slain on Riina's orders, including
the daughter of assassinated Palermo prefect Carlo Alberto Dalla
Chiesa, Rita, have come out against lending any "dignity" to the
ex-boss of bosses.
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