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Today (June 19) marks the 40-year anniversary of one of the most mysterious murders in the history of Britain.
It was June 19 in 1982 when Roberto Calvi was found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in London.
The man, known as 'God's Banker' was thought to have taken his own life, but private investigators and journalists have claimed there was more to Calvi's death than meets the eye.
It is alleged that he was profiting from vast sums of money being laundered by the Mafia and the Vatican, through Banco Ambrosiano.
Calvi was nicknamed 'God's Banker' because his bank was backed by the Vatican.
The Vatican ran the only unregulated bank in the world. It is claimed this meant money in it could be invested, and the profits would not be subject to tax laws because Italian regulators could not see it.
However, when the bank crashed in 1981, it is believed over a billion pounds was lost. This saw Calvi flee to London the following year using a fake passport.
Just a short stint into his time in the English capital though, he was found hanging from Blackfriars Bridge.
For years, the official line remained that Calvi took his own life, but in 2003 the City of London Police reopened the case as a murder enquiry. No one has been convicted.
Even more strangely, Calvi had approximately $15,000 in cash that consisted of three different currencies. Also found on the body were some bricks inside his clothing.
Nine years after his death, Calvi's family hired a private detective called Jeff Katz.
He ordered a number of forensic tests to be carried out on Calvi and the items he was wearing at the time of his death. They came back with some interesting results.
For example, investigators found several bricks in his suit pockets and underwear. However, tests of Calvi’s hands indicated that there was no trace of brick residue. It was unlikely that Calvi had ever even touched the bricks – implying that someone else had placed them there.
There were also injuries on Calvi’s neck, but these were not consistent with a hanging death. Additionally, Calvi’s shoes had no traces of rust or paint present on the scaffolding of the bridge.
Five people stood trial in Italy accused of murdering Calvi, but all were acquitted in 2007. The judge in the case cited insufficient evidence, however the court did rule that his death was murder rather than suicide.
Some people claim that Calvi embezzled the mafia out of £50 million. When the bank crashed, the organization lost their money. He was also a member of the illegal P2 Masonic – whose members are known as frati neri, which translates into ‘black friars'.
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
- Crime
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