PALERMO-- Mafia kill a man and feed his remains to pigs to avoid a small debt, four arrested in suspicion of his murder

He had gone to collect a debt, and instead was killed, his body dissected with a chainsaw and fed to pigs or burned inside metal drums. Thirteen years after the disappearance of the tobacconists from Villarosa, Giuseppe Bruno, an investigation led by the Caltanissetta district’s anti-mafia there have finally been four arrests connected to the crime. Each of the men arrested has some connection to a crime family known as the “blood brothers”.

 The brothers, Damian, Amedeo and Maurizio Nicosia are 60, 51 and 54 years old respectively and their cousin, Michele Nicosia is 53. They are accused of Mafia association with specific aggravated circumstances including intention to commit murder, fraud, usury, drug trafficking, possession and carrying firearms. In addition to this they are also accused of acquiring or aiming to control economic activities through blackmail and other ways.

 Maurizio and his cousin Michael are accused of the murder of the tobacconist and the destruction of his corpse. The remains of Giuseppe Bruno have been a mystery to investigators as the man has been untraceable since 27 May 2004. His car was found parked close to a junction on the A 19. Thanks to statements made to the Anti-Mafia division in Caltanissetta allowed investigators to piece together what happened to Mr Bruno.

 The Nicosia Clan have been involved in the past with drug trafficking and the hiding of boss of the Gela family, Daniele Emmanuello, who was killed by police on 3 Dec. 2007 whilst he tried to escape from a house in the country between Villarosa and Villapriolo, where he was hiding.