Farewell to Graziano Mesina, the “red primula” of Sardinian banditism

He passed away at the age of 83 Graziano Mesinaemblematic figure of Sardinian banditismknown as The “Red Primula” of the Supramonte. Suffering from a serious tumor form, Graziano Mesina is deceased a few hours after being released for health reasons since Opera prisonwhere he was held since July 2022. The release provision has been adopted in consideration of his clinical conditions now terminal.​

Graziano Mesina, a life between escapes and convictions

Born in Orgosolo in 1942, Graziano Mesina became famous in the 60s and 70s For a series of kidnappings and for his spectacular evasions – Ben 10 out of 22 attempts. His figure, controversial and fascinating, made him A symbol of Sardinian banditism. In 2020, just before the carabinieri showed up to his home to notify him one definitive sentence to 30 years of imprisonment (then reduced to 24) for criminal association aimed at drug trafficking, Mesina gave herself to hiding. After a year and a half, in December 2021, it was Arrested in Desuloin Sardinia, by the Carabinieri del Ros. Subsequently, it was Transferred to the Badu ‘and Carros prison And then, in July 2022, in Milanese penitentiary of Opera.​

Requests for release and the decline of health conditions

In March 2023, the Lawyers of MesinaBeatrice Goddi and Maria Luisa Vernier, presented arequest for release for health reasonsclaiming that the elderly detained suffered due to advanced age and sedentary life. However, the Sassari surveillance court has rejected the request for lawyersconsidering his conditions compatible with detention in the Opera prison, a structure adequate to cope with any health problems. In 2024 Vernier and Goddi presented a new applicationhighlighting a neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric decay that could be the beginning of a senile dementia. The Milan surveillance court therefore ordered one psychiatric expertise To evaluate the conditions of Graziano Mesina.

The last chapter of Graziano Mesina

Day April 11, 2025following the ambush of his health conditions, Graziano Mesina was released and transferred to a health facility. However, its state was now strongly compromised and the prisoner He passed away in a few hours. The closure of a chapter of Italian criminal history, marked by spectacular escapes, kidnappings and aincessant challenge to institutions.