Court of Appeals Confirms Convictions in CGIL Attack Case
The Rome Court of Appeals upheld the convictions in the main trial over the 2021 attack on CGIL, with Fiore, Castellino and others sentenced to eight years or more.
The Corte d'Appello di Roma confirmed on Wednesday the convictions in the main filing related to the attack on the CGIL headquarters in 2021, upholding the sentences imposed at first instance for seven defendants, among them the leaders of the far-right movement Forza Nuova.
Court decision and confirmation of convictions — CGIL, 2021 attack
The Primeira Sezione della Corte d'Appello di Roma accepted the request of the Attorney General and ratified the seven convictions issued at first instance in the main trial concerning the attack on CGIL in 2021, according to ANSA. The appellate ruling thus maintained the penalties previously applied by the trial judges.
The decision concerns the core of the case that examined the violent occupation of the headquarters of Italy's largest union, in an incident that drew wide attention in Italy and abroad. According to ANSA, the appellate judges rejected the defense’s challenges and confirmed the classification of several crimes attributed to the defendants.
Sentences and defendants convicted on appeal — Roberto Fiore and Giuliano Castellino
The Court of Appeals confirmed the sentences for the main defendants of the case:
- Roberto Fiore, leader of the Forza Nuova movement, was sentenced to 8 years and six months in prison.
- Giuliano Castellino, a prominent figure of the movement in Rome, received 8 years and seven months.
- Luigi Aronica was sentenced to 8 years and six months.
- Luca Castellini, Salvatore Lubrano, Lorenzo Franceschi and Pamela Testa received sentences of 8 years and two months each, as recorded by ANSA.
The terms and the upholding of the sentences represent the confirmation, at the appellate level, of the evidentiary and legal assessment made by the first-instance court. According to the agency, the sentences refer to the main filing of the case, distinct from other connected or subsequent proceedings.
Charges brought — conspiracy in devastation and instigation
The charges vary according to each defendant’s role and participation in the events. Among the crimes charged are, per ANSA’s findings, concorso in devastazione (concurrence in devastation) and istigazione a delinquere (instigation to crime). These qualifications were upheld by the Corte di Appello after evaluating evidence, testimonies, and material collected during the investigation.
The application of these classifications played a central role in setting the penalties, as the judges determined there was coordination and conduct aimed at occupying and damaging the union’s property, acts that go beyond a mere political demonstration and constitute crimes against public order.
Relevance for Brazilians and descendants — political-judicial context in Italy
The confirmation of convictions in the CGIL case holds informative relevance for Brazilians and descendants of Italians who follow Italian political and judicial developments. The episode and its handling show how acts of political violence are treated by Italian judicial authorities, with implications for far-right movements and the protection of civil institutions.
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Procedural consequences and next steps
The second‑instance confirmation solidifies the decisions against the seven defendants in the main filing, but does not automatically close all potential avenues of appeal provided by the Italian legal system, such as appeals to higher courts when applicable. The coverage by ANSA noted the appellate court’s ruling and the maintenance of the penalties.
The appellate court’s decision confirms the first‑degree assessment of the defendants’ participation in the attack on the CGIL headquarters in 2021, according to ANSA.
Conclusion: the Court of Appeals of Rome maintained the convictions in the main proceeding linked to the CGIL attack, with penalties ranging from 8 years and two months to 8 years and seven months for the principal defendants, including Roberto Fiore and Giuliano Castellino. The confirmation reinforces the weight of the evidence and the criminal classifications recognized by judges at the trial instances.
Source: ANSA
