Giuseppe Di Cristina
Giuseppe Di Cristina | |
|---|---|
Giuseppe Di Cristina. | |
| Born | April 22, 1923 |
| Died | May 30, 1978 (aged 55) |
| Cause of death | Gunshot |
| Nationality | Sicilian |
| Other names | “la tigre’’ (the tiger) |
| Occupation | Mafia boss |
| Known for | Head of the Riesi Mafia family |
| Allegiance | Riesi Mafia family / Sicilian mafia |
Giuseppe Di Cristina (April 22, 1923 – May 30, 1978) was a powerful mafioso from Riesi in the province of Caltanissetta, Sicily, southern Italy. Di Cristina, nicknamed “la tigre’’ (the tiger), was born into a traditional Mafia family, his father Francesco Di Cristina and his grandfather were men of honour as well.
In 1975 he became the head of Cosa Nostra in the Caltanissetta province and a member of the Interprovincial Commission of the Mafia. Three years later he was killed by a rival Mafia faction, the Corleonesi of Totò Riina and Bernardo Provenzano. His death was a prelude to the Second Mafia War, which would start in 1981 after the Corleonesi killed Stefano Bontade.