Benedetto Spera

Benedetto Spera (Italian pronunciation: [beneˈdetto ˈspɛːra]; born 1 July 1934) is a member of the Sicilian Mafia and the boss of the Belmonte Mezzagno Mafia family and the mandamento of Belmonte Mezzagno in the province of Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy.

He was convicted in absentia for the killing of the two prominent anti-mafia judges Paolo Borsellino and Giovanni Falcone, receiving life sentences.

[1] Spera was a member of the Sicilian Mafia Commission as an ally to the Corleonesi and became one of the most trusted advisers of Bernardo Provenzano.

[2] Among the other members of the directorate were Salvatore Lo Piccolo from Palermo; Andrea Manciaracina from Mazara del Vallo; Salvatore Rinella from Trabia; Giuseppe Balsano from Monreale; Matteo Messina Denaro from Castelvetrano; Vincenzo Virga from Trapani; and Antonino Giuffrè from Caccamo.

[4] Police apprehended him at a farmhouse in Mezzojuso, 40 kilometres outside of Palermo, where he was to meet Provenzano and Spera's personal physician.