Mafia boss claims extradition would expose him to cruel and degrading treatment

A Mafia boss has stepped up his legal battle over his extradition to Italy, claiming that if extradited he will be exposed to cruel and degrading treatment. In a case filed before the First Hall of the Civil Court in its Constitutional jurisdiction, Sebastiano Brunno also claimed a breach of his fundamental right to a fair trial. Mr Brunno, known as the head of the Nardo Cosca, a branch of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, was arrested in Buġibba on October 2 last year, five years after the Sicilian police mounted an extensive hunt for him. The arrest followed an international investigation coordinated by the Catania anti-Mafia unit with the Maltese Criminal Investigation Department and Drug Squad. In December, a court acceded to a request by the Italian authorities to send Mr Brunno, 56, back in his homeland to serve a life sentence he received over the 1992 murder of Agnello Nicolo. The Italian authorities also want Mr Brunno over an attempted murder in September of the same year, but the conviction on that crime had been overturned on appeal. Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, in the first court, said this mistake in the request did not change its substance and the judgment handed down by the...