The family connected to Raquel Sánchez Silva, wife of the late Italian cameraman Mario Biondo, continues to pursue a thorough inquiry into his death. Biondo was found unresponsive in his Madrid home on May 30, 2013, a case that later moved through the Spanish legal system after his relatives challenged the initial ruling. The appeal filed with the Madrid Provincial Court came from Santina d’Alessandro, the law firm representing Biondo’s mother, seeking a restart of the proceedings that had stalled years earlier.
Interest in the case intensified with the release of the documentary series Las últimas horas de Mario Biondo, which premiered on Netflix on August 3 and examined the lengthy legal battle surrounding the death. Initial conclusions drawn by the Spanish judiciary in September 2013 labeled the death a suicide, a determination that would later be revisited as diplomatic efforts from Italy influenced the investigation. In December of that year, Italian authorities started a new line of inquiry following pressure from Biondo’s family.
A Palermo judge initially reopened the inquiry but ultimately shelved it, leaving lingering questions in shadow. Judge Nicola Aiello noted that elements contained in the Public Ministry file suggested that Biondo was killed by unknown hands and placed in a position that could mimic suicide. The decision to halt the investigation sparked legal action and prolonged the fight for answers. The case has now returned to the Spanish justice system, where authorities will decide whether to pursue further investigation.
non-payment
The Biondo family remains determined. They argue that the exact circumstances surrounding Biondo’s death are not yet clear and contend that a homicide cannot be ruled out. According to sources cited by El Periódico, the family invested roughly 3,000 euros to cover legitimate judicial expenses, including attorney fees and administrative costs. Those funds covered necessary steps taken in support of the ongoing legal process. The Barcelona law firm Vosseler Abogados previously represented the family in Spain on a nonprofit basis, supporting the effort without charging fees.
There has been continued public commentary since Raquel Sánchez Silva spoke out about the documentary, calling the coverage distracting from the memorial and the family’s distress. The legal representatives for the Biondo family in Spain, including Vosseler Abogados, have stated that they intend to avoid amplifying sensationalism and to focus on the factual dimensions of the case. The Madrid Court remains the central stage for the next judicial actions, where a decision on whether to extend investigations is anticipated.