Maxi Trial

The Maxi Trial was a criminal trial that took place in Sicily during the mid-1980s that saw hundreds of defendents on trial for a multitude of crimes relating to Mafia activities.

Location and Defendants

Never before in the history of the Mafia has so many men of honour faced trial at the same time. A total of 474 defendants were facing charges, although 119 of them were to be tried in absentia as they were fugitives and still on the run (Salvatore Riina was one of these absent defendants.)

Related Topics:
Mafia - In absentia

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Amongst those present were Luciano Leggio, Riina's predeccesor, who acted as his own lawyer, and also Pipo Calo and Michele Greco (the latter was the uncle of the infamous mass-killer Pino Greco.)

Related Topics:
Luciano Leggio - Lawyer - Pino Greco

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The Maxi trial took place next to the Ucciardone (the Palermo prison) in a bunker specially designed to try the defendants. It was a large octagonal building and inside there were cages built in to the green walls holding the many defendents in large groups. There were over six-hundred members of the press as well as many carabinieri wielding machine guns keeping an eye on the defendents.

Related Topics:
Palermo - Prison - Octagonal - Carabinieri - Machine guns

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