Berlusconi sex trial to go ahead
2013-01-14 19:18
Milan - A Milan court on Monday rejected a bid by former premier Silvio Berlusconi to halt his sex-for-hire trial because of Italy's
general election campaign, a ruling that means a verdict could come before the
February vote.
The judges deliberated for four hours before deciding
that the trial would go ahead.
The defence also decided they didn't need to hear
testimony from the Moroccan woman at the center of the case, Karima el-Mahroug,
the last witness.
El-Mahroug had appeared in court on Monday ready to
testify after having failed to show on two previous dates, purportedly because
she was in Mexico on vacation.
Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex with el-Mahroug,
better known as Ruby, when she was 17 and during his notorious "bunga
bunga" parties - supposedly racy soirees featuring many young women - and
then using his office to cover it up.
Both deny sexual contact.
El-Mahroug had been the last witness due to testify,
meaning a verdict could come before the 24-25 February elections in which
Berlusconi is heading a center-right coalition.
Berlusconi's defence lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, had filed a
motion to suspend the proceeding, citing the demands of the election campaign.
The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that
Berlusconi is not the formal head of his party nor its official candidate for
premier, and that he has infrequently shown up for trail anyway, as is his
right.
In their ruling, the judges said Berlusconi's absences
for a political campaign were a personal choice and couldn't be compared with
having a parliamentary obligation - which has been accepted as a legitimate
impediment that can allow a trial to be delayed.
Prosecutors had said they didn't need el-Mahroug's court
testimony, explaining they had what they needed from other evidence already
submitted.
Berlusconi's defence, which had originally called her as
a witness, said on Monday they didn't need to hear her testify.
They offered no explanation for the change in strategy.
El-Mahroug's lawyer, Paola Boccardi, said her client
wasn't angry that she didn't have to testify, just "surprised that she
wasn't heard”.
El-Mahroug looked relaxed, chatting with her lawyer.
She wore a dark parka with fur trim, Ugg boots and
carried a fashionable Louis Vuitton handbag.
In saying that she needn't testify, the judges thanked
el-Mahroug for appearing.
- AP
