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Mills bribery conviction quashed Mills bribery conviction quashed
(10 minutes later)
British tax lawyer David Mills has had his bribery conviction quashed by Italy's top appeals court.British tax lawyer David Mills has had his bribery conviction quashed by Italy's top appeals court.
The judge said the current trial was beyond the 10-year limit for prosecution set by Italian law.The judge said the current trial was beyond the 10-year limit for prosecution set by Italian law.
The estranged husband of UK minister Tessa Jowell was convicted in February 2009 of taking a £400,000 bribe from Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi. The estranged husband of UK minister Tessa Jowell denied the offence but was convicted in 2009 of taking a £400,000 bribe from Italy PM Silvio Berlusconi.
The ruling means a parallel corruption case against Mr Berlusconi could also now be dropped.The ruling means a parallel corruption case against Mr Berlusconi could also now be dropped.
In a separate trial, Mr Berlusconi denies allegations of corrupting Mr Mills.
Tax havenTax haven
Prosecutor Gianfranco Ciani insisted Mills took the bribe, but said the conviction should be overturned because the statute of limitations had expired. After his conviction in February last year, Mills was ordered to pay 250,000 euros (£222,000) to the Italian government for damage to its image. He had also faced four-and-a-half years in jail.
Mills was ordered to pay 250,000 euros (£222,000) to the Italian government for damage to its image. He had faced four-and-a-half years in jail. The Cassation Court's decision to overturn the verdict comes after a Milan court rejected an earlier appeal in October against the conviction.
The Cassation Court overturned the verdict after a Milan court rejected an earlier appeal in October against the conviction. Mr Mills, who separated from former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell in 2006, was one of Mr Berlusconi's consultants on offshore tax havens.
Mills, who separated from former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell in 2006, was one of Mr Berlusconi's consultants on offshore tax havens. After the successful appeal ruling, the Briton's lawyer said: "We are satisfied. This is a decision that recasts the verdict issued by the Milan appeals court."
The Briton's lawyer said: "We are satisfied. This is a decision that recasts the verdict issued by the Milan appeals court."
In a statement, Mr Mills said he would now be able to "get back to a normal life".In a statement, Mr Mills said he would now be able to "get back to a normal life".
"I am very relieved that this saga has finally now come to an end," he said."I am very relieved that this saga has finally now come to an end," he said.
"I am grateful beyond words to my family and friends who knew I was innocent and have supported me all the way through and to my wonderful lawyer.""I am grateful beyond words to my family and friends who knew I was innocent and have supported me all the way through and to my wonderful lawyer."
The prosecution had alleged Mr Berlusconi had paid Mills for not revealing details of offshore companies during two previous trials in 1997 and 1998, in which the lawyer had appeared as an expert witness for the prime minister. The prosecution had alleged Mr Berlusconi had paid Mr Mills for not revealing details of offshore companies during two previous trials in 1997 and 1998, in which the lawyer had appeared as an expert witness for the prime minister.
The charges stemmed from a letter Mills sent to a British accountant in 2004, in which he said the £400,000 payment had come from "Mr B". The charges stemmed from a letter Mr Mills sent to a British accountant in 2004, in which he said the £400,000 payment had come from "Mr B".
The alleged offence was said to have taken place in November 1999.The alleged offence was said to have taken place in November 1999.
Mills initially admitted having received money from Mr Berlusconi "in recognition" of the evidence he had given, but later said the money had come from Italian shipping magnate Diego Attanasio. Mr Mills initially admitted having received money from Mr Berlusconi "in recognition" of the evidence he had given, but later said the money had come from Italian shipping magnate Diego Attanasio.
Mr Berlusconi is charged with corrupting Mills, in a parallel trial. Prosecutor Gianfranco Ciani maintained Mr Mills took the bribe, but said the conviction should be overturned because the statute of limitations had expired.
Both men denied the charges.