One of the most famous criminal leaders of the twentieth century, Salvatore (Toto) Riina, died in a prison hospital in the Italian city of Parma. «Boss of bosses» of the mafia La Cosa Nostra
passed away at the age of 87 years.
In recent weeks he remained in a medically induced coma after surgery.
The deceased was incarcerated for 23 years — he was sentenced to 26 life terms for multiple murders. I believe that on account of Riina at least 150 of lives. In particular, he is guilty of the death of a former mayor of Palermo and a prominent politician salvo Lima. Even while behind bars, «the boss of bosses» was able to settle scores with the judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, who actively fought against the mafia.
The son of a poor farmer from Corleone began his crime career at the age of 19. He soon gained a reputation as a ruthless killer and the nickname Beast.
In the 70-ies of the last century, now deceased Riina took control of the Sicilian mafia, eliminating several opponents. His rise to power was marked by the increase of drug trafficking and a violation of the principles of Cosa Nostra — before it members of the criminal gang did not kill women and children.
In the end, the cruelty of the «boss of bosses» even angered his subordinates — members of the mafia started to break mutual responsibility and giving testimony against Riina. This made possible his arrest.
The criminal leader was placed in jail with strict security measures that precluded its contacts with the mafia members and limited communication with relatives. In the last years of his life Riina was suffering from kidney cancer, heart failure and Parkinson’s disease, however, the court still dismissed the petition for his release under house arrest.
On the eve of death to him in the exceptional relatives were allowed. None of them was the eldest son, he followed in his father’s footsteps and is now serving a life sentence for 4 murders.
