This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6444387.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Berlusconi back in dock in Italy | Berlusconi back in dock in Italy |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A court in Milan has begun the trial of former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi and British lawyer David Mills for perverting the course of justice. | |
Mr Berlusconi is alleged to have paid Mr Mills $600,000 (£310,500) as a reward for giving favourable testimony in two previous corruption trials. | Mr Berlusconi is alleged to have paid Mr Mills $600,000 (£310,500) as a reward for giving favourable testimony in two previous corruption trials. |
The two face prison terms of between four and 12 years if convicted. | The two face prison terms of between four and 12 years if convicted. |
Both men deny the charges and neither was present for the opening of the trial. | |
For the prosecution this trial is a race against time. | For the prosecution this trial is a race against time. |
Before losing power, Silvio Berlusconi's government reduced the statute of limitations for perverting the course of justice from 15 to 10 years. | Before losing power, Silvio Berlusconi's government reduced the statute of limitations for perverting the course of justice from 15 to 10 years. |
And since this offence is alleged to have taken place in February 1998, the prosecution has little over 10 months to get a result. | And since this offence is alleged to have taken place in February 1998, the prosecution has little over 10 months to get a result. |
'Extremely complex' | 'Extremely complex' |
Already the lawyers representing Mr Berlusconi and his formal lawyer, David Mills, have been accused of delaying tactics by calling 83 witnesses. | Already the lawyers representing Mr Berlusconi and his formal lawyer, David Mills, have been accused of delaying tactics by calling 83 witnesses. |
That is likely to mean the trial will run out of time. Federico Ciconi, Mr Mills's lawyer, denied there was an attempt to slow the proceedings. | |
"We either do this trial properly," he said, "or we don't do it at all." | "We either do this trial properly," he said, "or we don't do it at all." |
It promises to be an extremely complex trial involving offshore companies, international bank accounts and substantial money transfers. | It promises to be an extremely complex trial involving offshore companies, international bank accounts and substantial money transfers. |
The prosecution alleged that $600,000 which appeared in a trust fund managed by Mr Mills was sent by Silvio Berlusconi as "a thank you" for evidence Mr Mills gave in two previous trials. | The prosecution alleged that $600,000 which appeared in a trust fund managed by Mr Mills was sent by Silvio Berlusconi as "a thank you" for evidence Mr Mills gave in two previous trials. |
The prosecution says the money was used to pay off a mortgage taken out in joint names by Mr Mills and his estranged wife, the UK Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, on their London home. | The prosecution says the money was used to pay off a mortgage taken out in joint names by Mr Mills and his estranged wife, the UK Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, on their London home. |
The witnesses to be called in the trial include bankers, fund managers and officers of London's Metropolitan Police Force, who last year seized computers owned by Mr Mills. | The witnesses to be called in the trial include bankers, fund managers and officers of London's Metropolitan Police Force, who last year seized computers owned by Mr Mills. |
The trial is being heard by three judges in Milan's central court. Mr Berlusconi and Mr Mills both deny the charges. |