Giuseppe’s brother made the suggestion that he "clean up the family mess" and marry an orphan instead of the daughter of separated parents.
[1] In 1980, just 17 years old, Giuseppe Marchese was initiated into the Mafia by Salvatore Riina and Leoluca Bagarella as ‘reserved’ man of honour affiliated with the Corleonesi.
He was only 18 when he participated in the so-called "Christmas Massacre" when, on the afternoon of 25 December 1981, in Bagheria, three Mafiosi – including Giovanni Di Peri, the boss of Villabate – and an innocent bystander were murdered.
His conviction was secured by the fact that his fingerprint was found on the steering wheel of one of the getaway cars [4] (the forensic scientist, Dr. Paolo Giaccone, who found and identified the fingerprint was subsequently shot to death by Rosario Rotolo, one of Filippo Marchese's killers; at the Maxi Trial, Rotolo was convicted of this murder).
[5][6] On 11 May 1989 Giuseppe Marchese and his brother Antonino battered to death Vincenzo Puccio, boss of the mandamento of Ciaculli and a fellow convict and hitman for the Corleonesi.
It was a deliberate ploy by Riina to ensure the Marchese brothers were unable to claim they had carried out the killing of Vincenzo Puccio during a spontaneous act of self-defence.