Hydra trial: witness recounts assaults by Nicastro family in Busto Arsizio
A 66-year-old man testifies in the Hydra trial how the Nicastro family controls Busto Arsizio through violence and threats. In May 2021 he was brutally assaulted after ejecting the boss's son from his premises.
The justice witness recounts the violence
According to Il Fatto Quotidiano - Cronaca, a 66-year-old man gave evidence as a justice witness in the Hydra trial, a proceeding concerning a Consortium of criminal organisations. Franco, the name used by the witness, described to the magistrates how the Nicastro family, linked to Cosa nostra and the Rinzivillo clan from Gela, controls the territory of Busto Arsizio in Lombardy through violence and intimidation. The witness reported being beaten severely on the evening of 18 May 2021, following yet another confrontation with the son of Dario Nicastro, one of the principal defendants in the proceeding.
"Today in Busto Arsizio everyone is still afraid of the Nicastro family," Franco declared in court. "No one reports them because they are terrified. Even if they have been beaten savagely, these people deny it and say they hurt themselves by accident, because they are afraid." The witness emphasised how the inhabitants of the city live in terror and how many citizens, despite having been victims of violence, refuse to file reports with the authorities.
A life marked by violence
Franco recounted his own story during the hearing. He arrived in Lombardy as a young man from southern Italy, where he initially faced difficulties even in finding a house because of the prejudices that were widespread at the time. Over the years he built an independent life, first opening a premises for his son, the Vanity Cafè, and subsequently a larger one, Studio 54. In 2008, during renovation work on the warehouse, Franco entrusted the work to the Nicastro family on the advice of his brother-in-law. The work was not completed properly: the Nicastro family received 120,000 euros but did not pay the subcontractors, forcing Franco to pay twice over.
The witness described how the Nicastro family, in particular Dario and his son Francesco, behaved as "masters" of the territory. Dario acted like a boss, whilst Francesco quickly learned the same attitudes, often accompanied by at least ten people. The young Nicastro regularly entered Studio 54, starting fights and causing provocations.
The threats and extortion
Franco recounted how he had ejected Francesco Nicastro from the premises on multiple occasions, maintaining his own dignity as the owner. A few days before 18 May 2021, the three Nicastro men (Fabio, Dario and Francesco) presented themselves at the premises during Franco's absence. According to the witness, they threatened his wife saying that Franco "had to let his son in whenever he wanted at any time, otherwise they would cut his head off". Francesco left his father's telephone number.
When Franco called Dario, the conversation immediately degenerated into explicit threats: "I have to strangle you with my own hands. If you dare to throw my son out again you are dead. I will kill you with my own hands," Dario allegedly said. Franco responded in kind, promising to report what had happened.
Before the violent incident, the Nicastro family had also attempted economic extortion. Despite the premises not being for sale, they proposed 60,000 euros to Franco to purchase it, telling him: "We intend to buy this premises here. We have seen this premises, which is already for sale. I am telling you that you have put it up for sale for 60,000, but we give you 50,000 in cash and you leave it to us." Shortly afterwards, Rosario Bonvissuto presented himself alone, ordered a beer and told the witness that if he wanted the premises "I would take it and you would disappear from here," and then left without paying.
The evening of the assault
On the evening of 18 May 2021, Francesco Nicastro returned to Studio 54 together with two Albanians, almost at ten o'clock in the evening. Franco ejected them again, given that Covid directives had imposed early closings. Francesco called his father, saying something like: "Look, this piece of rubbish here is still acting big." Franco was taking in the umbrellas when Dario Nicastro and Rosario Bonvissuto arrived in a red car. Bonvissuto made the customers present leave, and Dario assaulted Franco.
The psychological consequences
Franco deposited two statements before the magistrates and the carabinieri of the Investigative Unit in February. In one of them he vented the fear he continues to feel: "When I wake up in the morning it always comes to mind. When I have difficulty breathing, when I go to bed, when I climb the stairs, especially in winter, always in winter my nose might get blocked and I can't get air. When I talk about it I always think about it. I am unwell. I am being honest, I do not show it to anyone, I act tough, but I am afraid. I look around me, I change route, I never take the same route, even when I go home."
The witness explained how he changes his route from home every time, watches the shadows as he walks and checks who is following him before leaving. These behaviours reflect the continuing state of fear caused by the violence suffered and the threats received. Despite the trauma, Franco decided to report the matter in order to convince other citizens of Busto Arsizio to do the same, breaking through the wall of omertà that characterises the territory controlled by the Nicastro family.
In the trial, Fabio and Dario Nicastro are charged with membership of a criminal organisation, whilst Francesco Nicastro, the son of Dario, is charged together with Bonvissuto with aggravated extortion carried out using mafia-style methods against the witness.
Source: Il Fatto Quotidiano - Cronaca