The L'Aquila trial

• DOI: 10.1144/sp419.13
• Publication Date: 2015-02-14T05:19:22Z
• Authors: Massimo Cocco; Giovanna Cultrera; Alessandro Amato; Thomas Braun; Andrea Cerase; Lucia Margheriti; Alessandro Bonacc...; Martina Demartin; Paolo Marco De Ma...; Fabrizio Galadini; Carlo Meletti; Concetta Nostro; Francesca Pacor; Daniela Pantosti; Silvia Pondrelli; Francesca Quareni; Micol Todesco
• Keywords: Risk communication; L'Aquila Trial; legal liability; science communication; science misunderstanding; 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Abstract The first stage of the trial in L'Aquila (Italy) ended with a conviction seven experts, convened by head Civil Protection on 31 March 2009, for multiple manslaughter and serious injuries. They were sentenced to six years jail, perpetual interdiction from public office fine several million euros be paid victims earthquake 6 April 2009 (moment magnitude 6.3) having caused, their negligent conduct, death 29 persons injury others. verdict had tremendous impact scientific community way scientists deliver expert opinions decision makers society. This paper analyses argumentations reported Verdict Motivations, where data results largely debated misused demonstrate that they should have been considered as tool predict an impending large earthquake. Moreover, we show supposed message reassurance was not generated at experts’ meeting or official Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia reports. media key role conveying information during seismic swarm, contributing risk perception. We stress prevention actions based hazard knowledge are best defence against earthquakes.