AAAS News

Quake experts convicted in Italy

October 22, 2012 | Date Posted: October 22, 2012

Seven experts tasked with giving advice ahead of the deadly earthquake that struck L'Aquila, Italy in 2009 have been found guilty of manslaughter. The four scientists, two engineers, and a government official were accused of having carried out a superficial analysis of seismic risk and of having provided false reassurances to the public ahead of the quake, which killed 309 people. The prosecution had requested prison terms of 4 years for the accused, but Judge Marco Billi has handed each a sentence of 6 years imprisonment. The lawyers of the convicted say they will appeal the verdict.

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