Niccolo Mainoni

Friends of the Pod subscribers can listen to the full season of Shadow Kingdom right now. Join Friends of the Pod at crooked.com slash friends or on Apple Podcasts. Over two decades after Calvi's death, the Italian state was finally ready to prove who killed Roberto Calvi. Forensic expert Angela Gallup had put together a stunning report. Calvi hadn't killed himself, he was murdered.

Friends of the Pod subscribers can listen to the full season of Shadow Kingdom right now. Join Friends of the Pod at crooked.com slash friends or on Apple Podcasts. Over two decades after Calvi's death, the Italian state was finally ready to prove who killed Roberto Calvi. Forensic expert Angela Gallup had put together a stunning report. Calvi hadn't killed himself, he was murdered.

Gallup's report made its way very slowly into the Italian halls of justice, where eventually, five years later, a young prosecutor grabbed it. Gallup's report showed how Calvi had died, and the prosecutor was now ready to ask who had killed him. And so, once again...

Gallup's report made its way very slowly into the Italian halls of justice, where eventually, five years later, a young prosecutor grabbed it. Gallup's report showed how Calvi had died, and the prosecutor was now ready to ask who had killed him. And so, once again...

The world turned its attention to one of the most confounding cold cases on the planet, as the Italian state charged five people with the murder of Roberto Calvi.

The world turned its attention to one of the most confounding cold cases on the planet, as the Italian state charged five people with the murder of Roberto Calvi.

When I first heard the prosecutor's theory of the case, I thought it sounded ridiculous, like a 70s pulp novel. But I have to say now, two years into the story, it actually sounds far less ludicrous. Prosecutors alleged that the mafia and the P2 masons teamed up to organize Calvi's killing because the banker had lost money that he was supposed to launder.

When I first heard the prosecutor's theory of the case, I thought it sounded ridiculous, like a 70s pulp novel. But I have to say now, two years into the story, it actually sounds far less ludicrous. Prosecutors alleged that the mafia and the P2 masons teamed up to organize Calvi's killing because the banker had lost money that he was supposed to launder.

Among the five defendants were Silvano Vitor, the smuggler, and Flavio Carboni, the fixer. Prosecutors said they were hired by the mafia to gain Calvi's trust and divert him to London. There, a hitman drugged God's banker and hanged him to make it look like a suicide.

Among the five defendants were Silvano Vitor, the smuggler, and Flavio Carboni, the fixer. Prosecutors said they were hired by the mafia to gain Calvi's trust and divert him to London. There, a hitman drugged God's banker and hanged him to make it look like a suicide.

The other defendants were Carboni's girlfriend, who was with the men in London, and finally a mafioso and a gangster who were alleged to be involved with the planning. Early in my reporting, I used the trial mainly as a map, a way to suss out what names and events to research.

The other defendants were Carboni's girlfriend, who was with the men in London, and finally a mafioso and a gangster who were alleged to be involved with the planning. Early in my reporting, I used the trial mainly as a map, a way to suss out what names and events to research.

But this past year, I became obsessed with the idea that this trial, which spanned almost two years, could tell me something I'd been missing, something hidden in plain sight on Italy's version of Court TV. So I just started listening.

But this past year, I became obsessed with the idea that this trial, which spanned almost two years, could tell me something I'd been missing, something hidden in plain sight on Italy's version of Court TV. So I just started listening.

It was sort of like watching an old family reunion. I recognized most of the crew, though they were 20 years younger here at the trial. I mean, I listened to the trial while exercising, while doing the dishes, when I went on long trips. As I made lunch and dinner, I watched bankers and mobsters and members of Calvi's family testify.

It was sort of like watching an old family reunion. I recognized most of the crew, though they were 20 years younger here at the trial. I mean, I listened to the trial while exercising, while doing the dishes, when I went on long trips. As I made lunch and dinner, I watched bankers and mobsters and members of Calvi's family testify.

And actually, anyone with an Ambrosiano connection in the 1980s who still had a pulse in 2005. There were experts from around the world. English scientists, Swiss-French accountants. It was a bit of a circus. But as I watched hour after hour of testimony, I noticed that the news cameras started to disappear. The crowds started to peter out.

And actually, anyone with an Ambrosiano connection in the 1980s who still had a pulse in 2005. There were experts from around the world. English scientists, Swiss-French accountants. It was a bit of a circus. But as I watched hour after hour of testimony, I noticed that the news cameras started to disappear. The crowds started to peter out.

Even the defendants played hooky from the trial, which is legal in Italy. The case became unwieldy. Part of the trial just devolved into screaming matches. The prosecution tried to tie the mafia and the masons and the church and even the Italian CIA into this vast web of murder. But a lot of the evidence was hearsay.

Even the defendants played hooky from the trial, which is legal in Italy. The case became unwieldy. Part of the trial just devolved into screaming matches. The prosecution tried to tie the mafia and the masons and the church and even the Italian CIA into this vast web of murder. But a lot of the evidence was hearsay.