Berlusconi acquitted in sex case trial

‘The defendant is acquitted,’ presiding judge Enrico Tranfa said, requesting silence after gasps from the court. The judge said there was ‘no crime’ on the abuse of power charge and that Berlusconi’s actions ‘did not constitute a crime’ on the prostitution one, promising to publish a detailed explanation within the three-month legal limit.

Berlusconi’s lawyer Franco Coppi said that the ruling had ‘exceeded our highest expectations’, explaining that the judge may have recognised the defence argument that Berlusconi did not know the girl was 17 years old.

Berlusconi was not present at the hearing in Milan as he is doing his once-a-week community service at a centre for Alzheimer’s patients for a separate tax fraud conviction linked to his business empire, Mediaset.

The 77-year-old billionaire tycoon left the centre at Cesano Boscone near Milan following the ruling without making any comments, while a lone supporter held up a sign reading: ‘Justice is served’.