Italy Orders Jail Terms for 7 Who Didn’t Warn of Deadly Earthquake
October 22, 2012
Seven prominent Italian earthquake experts were convicted of manslaughter on Monday and sentenced to six years in prison for failing to give adequate warning to the residents of a seismically active area in the months preceding an earthquake that killed more than 300 people.
On a sun-drenched autumn day in L'Aquila, Vincenzo Vittorini peered into the huge hole in the ground where his house once stood and recalled the night his wife and nine-year-old daughter were crushed to death.
Scared by the scores of tremors that had shaken L'Aquila for four months, the Vittorinis were huddled together in bed in their top-floor apartment that night, 5 April 2009. When the earthquake struck at 3.32am, all three plummeted three storeys as the building folded like paper.
Miraculously Vittorini, 49, was unscathed, never lost consciousness and was dug out at 9am by a neighbour. His family were less fortunate. "My wife and daughter did not die immediately," he said, his voice trailing off. Did he hear voices as he lay trapped? "I heard everything, unfortunately."
Like many local people, Vittorini had decided to stay at home that night, having been reassured by a meeting of Italy's leading earthquake experts five days earlier, on 31 March. Just before attending the meeting, the deputy head of Italy's civil protection agency, Bernardo De Bernardinis, promised the tremors were helping the Earth release pent-up energy and called the situation "favourable".
The length of jail time for incompetent Italian scientists can vary depending on the severity of their actions and the outcome of their research. In some cases, they may face a few months to a few years in prison, while in more extreme situations, they could face up to 12 years in jail.
Incompetence in the scientific field can be defined as a lack of knowledge, skills, or experience that directly affects the quality or validity of their research. This can include falsifying data, not following proper protocols, or making significant errors in their work.
Yes, institutions that employ incompetent Italian scientists can also face consequences for their actions. They may be fined, lose funding, or even face legal action if their negligence or lack of oversight contributed to the incompetence of their scientists.
Yes, Italian scientists can appeal their jail sentences for incompetence. However, the success of the appeal will depend on the evidence presented and the severity of their actions. In some cases, the sentence may be reduced, while in others, it may be upheld.
Yes, there is a specific law in Italy that addresses jail time for incompetent scientists. It is known as Article 589 of the Italian Penal Code and outlines the consequences for those who engage in fraudulent or negligent scientific activities that result in harm to others or damage to the environment.