“Why did the prosecutor object?”

“Because she’s a bitch,” Consuelo answered before I could. “She objects regardless – she thinks that’s the right way to be a prosecutor.”

I shrugged. Basically, Consuelo was right and there wasn’t much to add.

I went back in and exchanged a few words with Iacopo.

“What happens now, Avvocato?”

“They should accept our requests and set a date to begin hearing witnesses. That said, the law is full of surprises, so let’s wait until they come out with their decision.”

Forty minutes later, Gastoni reappeared.

Another five minutes and the court returned. Marinelli read out the decree, agreeing to our requests, set the dates for the hearings, and adjourned until the following Friday, when the first three witnesses would be examined.175

Gastoni stood up and left without saying goodbye to anyone.

“Nice, isn’t she?” Consuelo said, putting the case file back in the briefcase.

“Yes, like a bad toothache,” I replied.

176

17

For the first hearing we called the police officer Cardace had spoken to as he was being taken to Headquarters; the head of Homicide at the time of the Gaglione murder; and the forensics technician who had carried out the gunshot residue test.

We started with the witness who hadn’t been examined at the original trial. His name was Nicola De Tullio, and he was a sergeant. Above all, he was an old street cop. Twenty years in the Flying Squad, moving from the street crimes unit to Narcotics and finally Homicide. A bit aggressive, according to Tancredi, who knew him, but a decent person and also a good officer.

He came into the courtroom with the determined manner of someone who is often called to testify in court and knows, or thinks he knows, all the possible tricks defence lawyers can pull – an excess of self-confidence into which experienced police officers frequently fall. He was wearing a leather biker jacket, had a thick grey moustache and looked like someone you’d rather not quarrel with if you could help it. He refused the card with the text of the oath when the bailiff held it out to him and recited the formula by heart.

“Conscious of the moral and legal responsibility I assume with my testimony, I swear to tell the whole truth and not to conceal anything of which I have knowledge.”

“Please proceed, Avvocato Guerrieri,” Marinelli said.177

“Good morning, Sergeant, can you tell the court in which department you work?”

“Bari Headquarters, Flying Squad, Homicide section.”

“Did you take part in the investigation into the murder of Cosimo Gaglione?”

“Yes.”

“Can you describe to us what your role was in the immediate aftermath of the crime?”

“Yes, together with my chief —”

“Sorry to interrupt. When you say ‘together with my chief’, to whom are you referring? To the head of the Homicide section or the head of the whole Flying Squad?”

“The head of the Flying Squad.”

“Wasn’t the head of Homicide there?”