http://www.7sur7.be/7s7/fr/1505/Mon...-premier-repenti-de-la-mafia-corse.dhtml

France judges its first "repentant" of the Corsican Mafia.

First life-size test for the status of repentant "à la française". A Corsican, under protection since denouncing the alleged members of a criminal gang, has been appearing since Monday behind closed doors to protect his life. This trial is a test case for the credibility of this repentant status inspired by the fight against mafia in Italy and the United States.

A public appearance of 48-year-old Patrick Giovannoni, whose confession brought down the so-called "Petit Bar" band in Ajaccio, south-west Corsica, "would be likely to seriously endanger his life", said the president of the Assize Court of Aix-en-Provence (southeast) Patrick Ramael.

In closed doors of protection
It will therefore be behind closed doors to the public that the jury will hear Mr. Giovannoni and the four other defendants suspected of having participated in the assassination of the former Corsican nationalist Antoine Nivaggioni in 2010.

Breaking the law of silence
By breaking the law of silence in 2015, Giovannoni has dropped one of the most emblematic criminal groups of recent years in Corsica. In exchange for full cooperation, the state is committed to helping the pentiti to rebuild their lives in the shelter, possibly with a borrowed identity, in the manner of intelligence services.

Unpardonable delinquency
But faced with a criminal environment reputed not to forgive the denunciation, these efforts would have been nullified by an appearance with an open face. To avoid the legal puzzle, a law passed in extremis in October 2017 provides for the possibility of a closed session.

No criminal immunity
Despite his status, Patrick Giovannoni, described as a small hand, however does not enjoy a criminal immunity, and has no assurance that justice gives him thanks for having spoken. His late confession did not prevent the crime.

Potential retribution
"We must sentence him, but not to prison, because it would send him to death," said his lawyer, Mr. Laurent-Franck Liénard, who fears retaliation. "We break the system of repentis if they know that's how they are thanked".