Mafias, Courage, and the Fragile Shield: Italy Reconsiders Its Witness Protection
Denise Cosco, a former state witness who lived under protection after testifying against her father and his accomplice in her mother Lea Garofalo's murder, has died under unclear circumstances, with investigators probing whether mafia retaliation was involved; Garofalo's murder followed her testimony about drug dealing by the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta, highlighting ongoing concerns about the safety and effectiveness of Italy's witness protection program.