Italy's court sentenced the former head of the Italian highway company to 12 years in prison for his role in the Genoa bridge collapse that killed 43 people, according to Britain's Sky News.

This verdict marks a major judicial milestone in the lengthy investigations conducted by Italian authorities following the disaster, which shook Italy and raised widespread questions about the level of maintenance and oversight of road infrastructure.

Disaster that shook Italy

The Morandi Bridge in the northern Italian city of Genoa, a vital artery in the highway network, collapsed, resulting in dozens of casualties and leaving a deep shock in both Italian and European consciousness.

In the wake of the disaster, Italian authorities launched extensive judicial investigations targeting officials and companies involved in highway management and maintenance, in an effort to assign responsibility and prosecute those responsible for the tragedy.

The verdict and its legal implications

The 12-year prison sentence for the former head of the highway operating company establishes a principle of accountability in cases of institutional negligence related to infrastructure safety, amid widespread anticipation from the victims' families who have long sought legal justice.

This case represents a notable example in European criminal law, as it directly imposes criminal consequences on executives of major companies for failures related to public safety.