Francesco Mangione
Encyclopedia
Francesco Mangione is an Australia
n, convicted of the murder of his 26 year old cousin, Denis Giunta on 5 February 2002 in his Williamstown
home.
was born 23 July 1957 in Sicily. In 1969 he came to Australia. Apprenticed to the former State Electricity Commission of Victoria
, he was in 1978 named by the Industrial Training Commission of Victoria as the outstanding radio tradesman apprentice of that year. He departed the SECV in 1989 and began operating an icecream van. In 1992 Mangione was arrested and detained, but he was later released due to there being no evidence to support charges over a missing six year old girl found in his icecream van. In 1993 an incident occurred between his family and that of Giunta, also an icecream van operator, escalating a turf war
which included a violent fight between Mangione and Giunta.
. Giunta's wife, Laura, awakened by her husbands screams, escaped via the bedroom's balcony
leading to the outside garage roof where she leapt to the ground, breaking her leg, requiring further hospitalisation for 21 days and in need of a wheelchair
and crutches upon her release. Giunta died at the scene from massive injuries.
On 21 February 2006, the Supreme Court of Victoria
Court of Appeal dismissed Mangione's appeal against the severity of his sentence. Mangione continues to maintain his innocence. He is imprisoned at Barwon Prison.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n, convicted of the murder of his 26 year old cousin, Denis Giunta on 5 February 2002 in his Williamstown
Williamstown, Victoria
Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733....
home.
Early life
Mangione, of Moonee Ponds, VictoriaMoonee Ponds, Victoria
Moonee Ponds is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley.It is home to Queens Park and the Moonee Valley Racecourse...
was born 23 July 1957 in Sicily. In 1969 he came to Australia. Apprenticed to the former State Electricity Commission of Victoria
State Electricity Commission of Victoria
The State Electricity Commission of Victoria was a monopoly electricity generation, transmission and supply utility located in Victoria, Australia...
, he was in 1978 named by the Industrial Training Commission of Victoria as the outstanding radio tradesman apprentice of that year. He departed the SECV in 1989 and began operating an icecream van. In 1992 Mangione was arrested and detained, but he was later released due to there being no evidence to support charges over a missing six year old girl found in his icecream van. In 1993 an incident occurred between his family and that of Giunta, also an icecream van operator, escalating a turf war
Turf war
According to Wordnet the definition of a turf war is "a bitter struggle for territory or power or control or rights". For example: a turf war erupted between street gangs; the president's resignation was the result of a turf war with the board of directors. In larger companies Turf wars could...
which included a violent fight between Mangione and Giunta.
Attack
On 5 February 2002, Giunta returned home from work. After showering he stepped naked into the bedroom where his wife lay sleeping and Mangione lay in wait. Mangione then attacked Giunta slashing, stabbing and hacking at him with a home made swordSword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
. Giunta's wife, Laura, awakened by her husbands screams, escaped via the bedroom's balcony
Balcony
Balcony , a platform projecting from the wall of a building, supported by columns or console brackets, and enclosed with a balustrade.-Types:The traditional Maltese balcony is a wooden closed balcony projecting from a...
leading to the outside garage roof where she leapt to the ground, breaking her leg, requiring further hospitalisation for 21 days and in need of a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
and crutches upon her release. Giunta died at the scene from massive injuries.
Trial
The trial lasted 10 days. On 13 February 2004, Mangione was found guilty by a jury and sentenced by Justice David Harper to 22 years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 18 years.On 21 February 2006, the Supreme Court of Victoria
Supreme Court of Victoria
The Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior court for the State of Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 1852, and is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited jurisdiction within the state...
Court of Appeal dismissed Mangione's appeal against the severity of his sentence. Mangione continues to maintain his innocence. He is imprisoned at Barwon Prison.