Preliminary hearing opens in Ivrea for 24 defendants over 2023 Brandizzo rail disaster

Hearing opens in Ivrea

The preliminary hearing into the fatal 2023 Brandizzo railway accident opened on 30 September 2026 before preliminary hearing judge Mauro Cantone at the courthouse in Ivrea. Prosecutors Gabriella Viglione, Valentina Bossi, Giulia Nicodemi, and Maria Baldari presented the case against 21 individuals and three corporate entities, namely Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), Sigifer, and Costruzioni Linee Ferroviarie (CLF). The proceeding addresses the crash that occurred late on the night between 30 and 31 August 2023, when a train travelling on the Turin-Milan line struck five maintenance workers shortly before midnight before rail operations were formally halted. The five men killed were Kevin Laganà (22), Michael Zanera (34), Giuseppe Sorvillo (43), Giuseppe Aversa (49), and Giuseppe Saverio Lombardo (53), all employed by subcontractor Sigifer.

Charges and corporate scrutiny

The indictment charges the defendants with multiple counts of culpable homicide, negligent rail disaster, and violations of occupational health and safety regulations. The accused include RFI site supervisor Antonio Massa, Sigifer foreman Andrea Girardin Gibin, former RFI chief executive Vera Fiorani, and Gianpiero Strisciuglio, former RFI chief executive and current head of the Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) Group. The prosecution case rests on 12 physical case files, including two dedicated to wiretaps, alongside 84 terabytes of digital evidence. Prosecutors concluded that the deaths resulted from systemic failures in coordination, oversight, and safety training across the subcontracting chain, asserting that RFI's internal supervisory body remained passive and subservient to corporate interests.

Civil parties and courtroom overcrowding

The opening session was primarily dedicated to procedural filings and requests for civil party status from over 30 aggrieved relatives, local authorities, and trade unions. Entities seeking civil standing include the Piedmont region, the Municipality of Brandizzo, the Sicurezza e Lavoro association, and unions such as UIL, Feneal, Fillea, and Filt CGIL. However, the hearing faced immediate criticism from lawyers and victims' relatives due to a severe shortage of space inside the Ivrea courthouse. Proceedings were split across rooms 3 and 6 and connected via video monitors, preventing families from sitting in the same room as the defendants. Civil party attorney Marco Bona publicly condemned the setup, calling the conditions an insult to the victims and legal representatives.

Massimo Laganà, father of victim Kevin Laganà, expressed deep frustration over the split courtrooms before entering the building.

We had requested a room where we could all be together, at least to look people in the face. Here we see each other through a screen, as if we were connected from home.

Family reactions and next steps

Victims' relatives, supported by representatives of the Viareggio rail disaster association and railway union groups demonstrating outside the courthouse, gathered in Ivrea seeking accountability. Many relatives noted that they have still not received concrete compensation proposals three years after the incident. Edoardo Aversa, brother of victim Giuseppe Aversa, criticized senior rail management for failing to safeguard future workers against identical hazards on the tracks. Judge Cantone adjourned the preliminary hearing to 28 October 2026, when the court will rule on the civil party petitions and continue procedural discussions.

We waited three years and we cannot even look the culprits in the face. We expected more. It is a shameful situation.