Felippo Melodia and the Villola Family

Franco Villola and her parents arrived at the Trapini Courthouse under armed police escort. All 12 of the defendants were present inside the courtroom, locked behind the defendant's bars. The room was palpably hostile towards the Villola family, who endured the crowds insults and death threats. In a show of solidarity with his co-accused, Felippo stated that none of the other 11 men charged had been present at the time of the phony kidnapping.