The next hearing in the "Dolce Vita" trial in Avellino is scheduled for 13 October 2026 before a new judicial panel chaired by Judge Gian Piero Scarlato.
The hearing on 25 September did not go ahead because of the criminal defense lawyers' abstention from hearings, according to local press reports. The October date will be the next hearing before the newly composed panel.
The proceedings involve 27 defendants, including former Avellino mayor Gianluca Festa.
What the court is expected to address on October 13
Reports describe the October 13 hearing as a preliminary procedural step, not the start of witness testimony.
The first witnesses are expected only after the court resolves the preliminary procedural issues now before it.
Two sets of defense objections are reported as pending:
- Objections concerning the Municipality of Avellino's constitution as a civil party, which the defense contends was filed too late.
- Requests concerning the case file, including defense requests to remove certain investigative documents.
In one reported example, the defense sought removal of material from the file while the public prosecutor opposed removing a search report concerning former mayor Laura Nargi.
Why the Municipality's position matters procedurally
A central preliminary issue is whether the Municipality of Avellino's constitution as a civil party was filed within the applicable time limit.
The published reports describe the procedural chronology of the Municipality's filing differently in detail. The precise dates and legal effect remain matters for the court record and the October 13 hearing.
No outcome has yet been reported on whether the Municipality will remain admitted as a civil party.
What to watch next
For readers following the case, the October 13 hearing should clarify three points:
- The composition and direction of the new Scarlato-led panel.
- Whether the Municipality of Avellino remains constituted as a civil party.
- Which documents remain in the trial file before testimony begins.
The published reports do not establish when the evidentiary phase will begin or when the first witnesses will be heard. Those dates should become clearer only after the preliminary issues are decided.
