This 14th hearing was supposed to see the governor of the region Emilia Romagna, Vasco Errani, and the mayor of Rubiera, Mr Lorena Baccarani, the town where another Eternit plant was set, bear witness. However, at 9.20, it was announced that neither of them could be present. Therefore, an Eternit manager and two secretaries who worked for more than 30 years in the offices in Genoa were called to testify.

The Eternit manager Fabrizio Longone, in charge from 1979 to 1986, testified for more than two hours about the security measures that were put in place by the company. In his view there were strict security measures, information on the dangers was regularly distributed to the workers and the most modern technology was used in asbestos-products production.

He claimed that "There were more asbestos fibres in the streets of Reggio Emilia than in the Rubiano plant", referring to the car breaking systems which were made with asbestos. His deposition was greatly appreciated by the defendants, but a strong feeling of disapproval spread in the courtroom, originated by the victims' families present in the audience. The witnesses' frequent vague and forgetful answers on touchy subjects certainly didn't help the atmosphere.

Then it was the turn of the secretary Giuliana Mondani, who other than explaining her duties and a answering a few other questions, didn't add much to the trial itself.

The third witness, the secretary Angela Mondani, who caused some agitation when she said that Mr. Costa "was the greatest asbestos expert in the world because he defended it". Judge Casalbore was surprised at this statement, and started quizzing the witness about it. Mrs. Mondani was clearly having trouble with this response, and wasn't able to give a convincing reason to her statement. The judge's reaction was to underline the witness' unreliability.

The hearing was closed and the 15th appointment in court was scheduled for next Monday, the 14th of June. This hearing will concentrate on the plant in Bagnoli.

(By Annalisa Palisca, Asbestos in the dock, 08/06/2010)