Rome, May 10, 2026 – Raul Calderon, also known as Gustavo Musumeci, has been acquitted on appeal of the charge of being the killer of Fabrizio Piscitelli, known as ‘Diabolik’. This ruling opens a significant logical and investigative gap, and potentially a judicial one, between the material perpetrator of the crime, who remains unknown, and the alleged masterminds: Giuseppe Molisso, Leandro Bennato, and Alessandro Capriotti (with a more marginal role).
The Acquittal and the Ongoing Investigation
The District Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA) continues to find evidence against the alleged masterminds in an ongoing investigation. The first-degree sentence had already established that Calderon, an Argentine killer currently serving a life sentence for another murder and 12 years for a double attempted murder, with a new drug trial pending, is linked to Diabolik’s adversaries in the war for control of drug trafficking. These adversaries allegedly commissioned the execution.
During the appeal for the 2019 ambush of the former leader of the ‘Irriducibili’ ultras, prosecutors unsuccessfully requested the admission of cell phone data as evidence. This data would have placed Bennato, in addition to Calderon, in an area compatible with the crime scene. However, the judges of the second instance evidently did not consider this data sufficient to convict Calderon.
Context of the Murder
Other proceedings have already shed light on the context in which the murder matured. Notably, the case involving Elvis Demce, a loyal follower and heir of Piscitelli, revealed significant details. Demce, whose family members visited him after the murder, was intercepted organizing revenge against Molisso and Bennato. Police and carabinieri identified the alleged motives behind the crime through these interceptions.
“They carried out a perfect execution… Mafia… A fixed appointment for months and months, study of the locations and cameras, rehearsals of the route… There’s the OK from M. (Michele Senese, according to investigators),” two individuals close to Demce were heard saying in an interception.
The reference to Calderon was also made: “They only have the frame of the tattoo,” referring to a tattoo on his calf covered by a bandage. The error made by Molisso and Bennato, who “fled in the wrong direction,” was also noted. Demce subsequently commissioned the killing of Molisso and Bennato to Matteo Costacurta, known as the ‘prince’, but this attempt failed due to the intervention of the carabinieri.
Future Proceedings and Implications
The motivations for the appellate judges’ reasoning and the perceived deficiencies in the accusation against Calderon will be clarified in due course. Following this, there will be an appeal to the Court of Cassation, while awaiting a definitive conclusion regarding the masterminds of the crime that has shaken Roman organized crime.
The former partner of Calderon, Rita Bussone, who was initially a key accuser, was later deemed an “unreliable witness.” Calderon’s other convictions and his use of a false identity have also been highlighted in previous reports.
The acquittal of Calderon underscores the complexity of the ‘Diabolik’ murder case, leaving many questions unanswered regarding the true perpetrator and the full extent of the criminal network involved.
Source: https://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_maggio_10/omicidio-piscitelli-diabolik-a-roma-assolto-il-killer-resta-aperta-l-inchiesta-sui-mandanti-0153ef85-121d-4df4-b415-8a216b73dxlk.shtml
