He was accused of being one of the men behind the Portella della Ginestra massacre , when 11 persons were killed and 33 wounded during May Day celebrations in Sicily on 1 May 1947 . The bloodbath was perpetrated by the bandit Salvatore Giuliano who was possibly backed by the Mafia . In the Portella della Ginestra massacre trial in 1950 – 51 in Viterbo , Giuliano 's right-hand man Gaspare Pisciotta said : " Those who have made promises to us are called Bernardo Mattarella , Prince Alliata , the monarchist MP Marchesano and also Signor Scelba , Minister for Home Affairs ... it was Marchesano , Prince Alliata and Bernardo Mattarella who ordered the massacre of Portella di Ginestra . Before the massacre they met Giuliano ... " Mattarella , Alliata and Marchesano were declared innocent by the Court of Appeal of Palermo , at a trial which dealt with their alleged role in the event
Portella della Ginestra massacre
Portella della Ginestra massacre
Bernardo Mattarella