Angela Gallop's forensic analysis reveals Roberto Calvi was murdered, not a suicide victim

Forensic scientist Angela Gallop has examined one of Britain's most mysterious deaths—that of Italian banker Roberto Calvi, found hanging under Blackfriars Bridge in 1982. Her analysis, featured in a new ITV documentary, challenges authorities' original suicide ruling and suggests foul play. The case, involving connections to the Vatican, the Mafia, and a controversial Masonic lodge, has haunted investigators for over four decades.

The Discovery and Initial Investigation

On 18 June 1982, an office worker discovered Calvi's body suspended from scaffolding beneath the bridge. The 62-year-old was dressed in an immaculate handmade suit and carried approximately £10,000 in various currencies—an extraordinary amount for the era. His pockets and trousers were stuffed with bricks and stones, yet authorities concluded he had taken his own life. A forged Italian passport under the name Gian Roberto Calvini was also found on the body.

Calvi, chair of Italy's largest private bank, held the informal title of "God's Banker" due to his role managing Vatican investments. His banking empire had collapsed, and he faced exposure to financial scandals linked to organized crime and the P2 Masonic lodge—connections that made him a marked man with formidable enemies.

Gallop's Forensic Breakthrough

Calvi's family rejected the suicide verdict and enlisted Gallop to investigate. The forensic scientist and her team applied advanced scientific techniques unavailable during the original 1982 inquiry. Their analysis uncovered physical evidence inconsistent with suicide, including details about the condition of his clothing and body positioning that suggested he was already deceased when positioned beneath the bridge.

The case remained dormant until 2002, when Italian prosecutors officially reopened it. The City of London Police initiated a murder inquiry in September 2003. Gallop's forensic findings provided crucial evidence supporting the family's decades-long assertion that Calvi had been murdered rather than having taken his own life.

The New Documentary

ITV's Cold Case Forensics: The Death of God's Banker, narrated by Nicola Walker, documents Gallop's investigation into the murky world surrounding Calvi's death. The series explores the financial dealings with the Vatican and connections to organized crime. Additional episodes examine other unsolved cases, including the deaths of solicitor Cheryl Lewis and ten-year-old Damilola Taylor.