Pasquale Simonetti

Pasquale Simonetti (; 26 February 1926 – 16 July 1955), known as ("big Pasquale from Nola"), was an Italian criminal of the Camorra, a Mafia-type organisation in Naples and Campania in Italy. His murder and, more specifically, the revenge killing by his widow Pupetta Maresca of the man who ordered the murder, made headlines internationally and inspired a film, La sfida (The Challenge), by the acclaimed Italian movie director Francesco Rosi.

Early life and career Simonetti was born in a poor family in Palma Campania, a town located at the foot of the Vesuvius in the hinterland of Naples about 25 km east of the city. His father was a carter and his mother was a housewife. His criminal career started in the 1940s during World War II falsifying ration books for food which he then sold on the black market. Subsequently, he entered the lucrative control over the fruit and vegetable business at the Naples open-air market exchange located in Corso Novara, near Naples Central Station.

In the early 1950s the Camorra controlled the entire chain of the fruit and vegetable markets. They imposed themselves as the protectors of the peasant farmers and shopkeepers, demanding in exchange the right to fix the price of products and control the business. They set whatever price they wanted and were called "the presidents of prices".

This type of mediation racket developed in the immediate post-war period. Weak modern market structures were regulated by violent mediators who imposed their own business rules. Farmers who did not accept the conditions would be threatened or their farm would go up in flames. Bigger companies like Cirio, a large tinned tomatoes company in Campania, also fell victim to these practices. It was very complicated, if not impossible, to collect sufficient evidence to prove the criminal aspect of this business.

Emerging Camorra boss

Simonetti became a partner of Antonio Esposito, known as Totonno 'e Pomigliano, a Camorra boss from Pomigliano d'Arco.

He is often claimed to have slapped notorious American gangster Lucky Luciano in the face at the race track of Agnano; however, the actual perpetrator was Francesco Pirozzi, one of the men of Camorra boss Alfredo Maisto.

Marriage with Pupetta Maresca

At Christmas 1954, Simonetti left prison, after serving two years of his sentence. On 27 April 1955, he married Assunta Maresca, known as Pupetta (Little Doll), a former beauty queen. The wedding was like a fairy tale with 500 guests, a lot of food and even his rivals Maisto and Esposito. The whole town of Palma Campania turned out to wish them well. Many gave them the traditional envelopes stuffed with money.

Although his criminal activities slowed down under the influence of his young wife, he sought to regain his lost prestige and activities. While in prison, his partner Antonio Esposito had taken over his businesses. He had promised to keep a percentage of the profits for Simonetti, but he did not keep his promise. Jealousy and fierce competition grew with "both believing that they ruled over the market district of Il Vasto" resulting in a violent war between the two.

Murder and revenge On 16 July 1955, at age 29, Simonetti was murdered in broad day light in the Corso Novara, the busy market place of Naples. He was shot by Carlo Gaetano Orlando, alias Tanino 'e Bastimento, a small-time criminal in Esposito's entourage, and Gaetano Nuvoletta. The six months pregnant Pupetta was devastated. She believed the police knew who the man behind the attack was, but were not prepared to do anything about it. On 4 October 1955, she drove to Naples with her younger brother, Ciro. When they met Esposito, she reached into her handbag and pulled out a Smith & Wesson .38. Holding it with both hands ("I was afraid I would miss," she explained later), she opened fire and killed Esposito in broad daylight.

On 14 October 1955, she was arrested. The trial began in April 1959 at the Court of Assizes in Naples. She was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment, later reduced to 13 years and 4 months by the Court of Appeal.