Mutolo’s declarations had tragic consequences. On December 3, 1992, one of Italy's most prominent public prosecutors Domenico Signorino committed suicide. According to newspaper leaks, Mutolo told investigators that Signorino was ""close to certain circles I know"." Signorino had been one of the main public prosecutors at the so-called Maxi Trial in Palermo in 1987, when he demanded life sentences for 20 accused mafiosi and sought a 17-year prison term for Mutolo. Signorino had publicly rejected the accusation, and told reporters, ""if seeking 20 life sentences at the maxi-trial means I am a mafioso, then go ahead and call me that"." The judge's death inspired debate over the disclosure of unsubstantiated accusations by Mafia informers that could cause untold damage.