Giovanni Brusca was tasked with the killing , and a bomb was placed under the motorway Falcone would take from the airport when arriving from Rome . Bagarella assisted at the scene during preparations . Falcone died in the Capaci bomb attack on May 23 , 1992 , along with his wife and three policemen . 57 days later , his colleague Paolo Borsellino was killed in another bombing , along with five police bodyguards . The state came under intense political pressure because of its failure to protect Falcone and Borsellino . Vito Ciancimino , who knew Riina 's lieutenant Bernardo Provenzano , was contacted by emissaries claiming to represent the government ; the content of the negotiations has been disputed . Riina 's strategy seemed to be bearing fruit , but Ciancimino and Provenzano thought Riina 's demands were unrealistic , and no concessions were in fact obtained
Capaci bomb attack
Capaci bombing
Leoluca Bagarella