Denise Cosco, who testified against her father for the mafia murder of her mother, has died in Rome. Cosco, who had been living under state protection, was found critically injured and later died in hospital. Her mother, Lea Garofalo, became a symbol of resistance against the 'Ndrangheta clan after testifying against them.
The death of Denise Cosco underscores the profound and lasting psychological toll that organised crime can exact on individuals and their families, even those who cooperate with authorities. It highlights the challenges faced by survivors of mafia violence and the potential need for lifelong support systems.
Denise Cosco, the daughter of a mafia victim who bravely testified against her own father, has died in Rome. She was found critically injured on Sunday and later died in hospital. Her mother, Lea Garofalo, was murdered in 2009 by the 'Ndrangheta clan after she turned state witness against the organisation. Garofalo became a powerful symbol of resistance to mafia violence.
Cosco, who was 35 at the time of her death, had lived under state protection with a new identity for many years. Despite her testimony and the subsequent years of protection, those close to her described her struggle with mental health issues and addiction. Francesca Rispoli, co-president of the anti-mafia organisation Libera, highlighted the enduring psychological ties that can make it difficult for individuals to break free from organised crime, even after leaving physically.
Cosco had reportedly reconnected with her father, Carlo Cosco, who is serving a life sentence for his role in Garofalo's murder, in prison in recent years. Her father had tricked Garofalo to a meeting where she was strangled, dismembered, and incinerated. Cosco's testimony was crucial in securing convictions against her father and three accomplices. At the trial, she described herself as a "proud witness for justice" seeking "inner freedom to start over."
Prosecutors have launched an investigation into Cosco's death to determine if there was any incitement to suicide. Her phone has been seized for analysis. Friends and supporters are planning to gather in Milan to remember her, with Libera president Luigi Ciotti noting that her life was a difficult balance between courage and suffering.