Carbone and Gassani, the “Princes of the Bar”

On March 26, 2023, the generous heart of the criminal lawyer ceased to live Paolo Carbone recognized “Prince of the Forum of Salerno”. Heir to the noble tradition of Salerno criminal law which he represented admirably and at the highest levels in many judicial events made sensational by the news. Paolo Carbone initially wanted to follow the path of journalism, but felt the imperative need to leave journalism to dedicate himself, with heart and soul, to criminal law. And the illustrious lawyer was the first to realize that he would reach unexpected heights in this sector of the legal profession due to his compelling and persuasive speech. Mario Parrilli who welcomed him into his studio as a practitioner. In the shadow of the great master he cut his teeth which later earned him the title of “Prince of the Forum”. Simple, frank, as befits a Lucanian by birth and Salerno by adoption, he undertook a career as a criminal lawyer, or rather as a globetrotting lawyer for the curiae of Italy. He left this crazy world when no one could guess his journey to eternity. But his love for journalism often appeared on the horizon of his cultural interests and his signature appeared on national media outlets. A second love, after the forensic one, which manifested itself with the responsible direction of the newspaper “Justice” official body of the Salerno Bar Association. We often met to remember the journalism of yesterday and today and amicably duet on trials that affected, for better or worse, well-known and less well-known men in society.

On March 27, 1981, however, he was murdered, in his own law firm, in the heart of the city, by two ruthless Camorra killers, Dino Gassani, distinguished criminal lawyer. Another “Prince of the Court of Salerno” who combined a passion for the toga with a rousing oratory imbued with jurisprudential references. He loved the toga with a boundless love and never missed an opportunity to defend it whenever the opportunity arose. Why was Dino Gassani killed? Faced with the request of the two killers, who had presented themselves disguising themselves as “clients” to have their client recant the accusation testimony against the clan by the first collaborator of justice, already a member of the “family” headed by Raffaele CutoloDino Gassani responded negatively by writing on a sheet of paper: «I cannot lose all dignity». A sentence which was followed by gunshots from the two Camorra members. Together with Dino Gassani, a shining example of attachment to the toga, his trusted secretary was also killed Pino Grimaldi who had seen the killers in the face. To Dino Gassani the President of the Republic, Napolitanoawarded the gold medal to memory.