Italian scientists face trial over fatal earthquake

More than 300 people died in the earthquake in the Italian city of L'Aquila in 2009. File photo / AP

Six Italian scientists and a former government official are due to go on trial for manslaughter over the 2009 earthquake in L'Aquila.

The defendants are accused of giving a falsely reassuring statement before the 6.3 magnitude quake which devastated the Italian city and killed 309 people.

The defence argues that there is no way to predict major earthquakes even in a seismically active area, reported the BBC.

The scientists were part of a government panel tasked with assessing the risks after hundreds of low-level tremors had rattled the city in the months leading up to the lethal earthquake.

The panel issued a statement reassuring the city, although they added that it was not possible to predict whether a stronger quake would occur.

They recommended stricter enforcement of anti-seismic measures, particularly in building construction, according to the BBC.

On the night of the fatal quake, many people remained in their homes and died because of this advice.

The prosecutors accuse the seven of "negligence and imprudence... of having provided an approximate, generic and ineffective assessment of seismic activity risks as well as incomplete, imprecise and contradictory information".

The case has attracted the attention of scientists around the globe, more than 5,000 of whom have signed an open letter to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in support of the defendants.

The defendants, who include some of Italy's most distinguished geophysicists, face up to 15 years in jail as well as paying more than $30m in damages to plaintiffs in a separate civil case if found guilty.