Francesco Fortugno

He was gunned down with five bullets in front of dozens of bystanders as he cast his vote at the primary elections of the centre-left coalition Unione.

One banner read, E adesso Ammazzateci tutti (And Now Kill Us All), and many carried white sheets as a symbol of protest against the omertà, or silence, that protects the mafia.

Alessandro Marcianò and his son Giuseppe were convicted of ordering the killing, while Salvatore Ritorto was found guilty of being the gunman.

[9][10] Fortugno was murdered so that Domenico Crea, a Christian Democrat member of the regional assembly, could take his place, according to investigators.

The killing took place against the backdrop of a web of suspicious relations through which the 'Ndrangheta was able to manipulate contracts and appointments in the regional health services.