11 February 2004, Attilio Manca, a 34-year-old urologist from Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Sicily), dies in his flat in Viterbo in mysterious circumstances. It is suspected that he unknowingly operated Bernardo Provenzano & was killed because he recognised his patient [Thread] >> 1

Bernardo Provenzano, who has been in hiding for 40 years, undergoes a prostrate operation in a private clinic near Marseilles in October 2003. In the same period Attilio Manca tells his family he is in the Marseilles area to examine a patient in preparation for surgery >> 2

Despite his young age, Manca is considered a leader in his field (laparoscopic prostrate surgery). His body is found in his flat on 12 February. His nose is broken, his face covered in blood and his body heavily bruised all over. There are two needle holes in his left arm >> 3

Two used syringes are found in the kitchen with their caps replaced. The post mortem finds that Manca was injected with a mixture of heroin, alcohol & tranquillizers. The syringes are sealed in evidence bags but are not examined for fingerprints (!) >> 4

Investigators quickly conclude it is a case of suicide. However, the injections were made in Manca's left arm when he was left-handed. When the syringes are finally examined for fingerprints (8 years later!) none are found. Police find fingerprints of five people in the flat >> 5

Four remain unidentified, the fifth is Attilio's cousin, Ugo Manca. Ugo had been in the flat a month before Attilio's death but his fingerprints are found in the bathroom, where water and steam would probably only allow them to survive for a few hours >> 6

In 2005 Ugo Manca is placed under special surveillance measures because of his contacts with leading mafiosi. Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto has one of the strongest mafia presences in Sicily. In 2006 he is sentenced to 9 years' imprisonment for drug trafficking >> 7

Despite the efforts of Attilio Manca's family and lawyers, who even appealed to the Italian Parliamentary Antimafia Commission, the case has been closed and they face an uphill battle to get it reopened //8