Teen girl goes to court in Berlusconi sex trial
15 Jan 2013 5:46 AM IST
The Moroccan woman at the center of former Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s sex-for-hire trial has arrived in court to testify as a witness for the first time on Monday while defence lawyers sought to shut down the trial because of Italy’s election campaign.
Karima el-Mahroug was ordered by the court to appear after failing to show on two previous dates, reportedly because she was in Mexico on vacation. She has been called as a defence witness.
Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex with el-Mahroug, better known as Ruby, when she was 17, and then trying and cover it up. Both deny sexual contact.
El-Mahroug is the last witness due to testify, meaning that a verdict could come before the February 24-25 elections in which Berlusconi is heading a center-right coalition.
But Berlusconi’s defence lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, filed a motion to suspend the proceeding, citing the demands of the electin campaign.
The prosecution opposed the request, saying the trial regards Berlusconi private life. El-Mahroug looked relaxed, chatting with her lawyer. She wore a dark parka with fur trim and carried a fashionable Louis Vuitton handbag.
Karima el-Mahroug was ordered by the court to appear after failing to show on two previous dates, reportedly because she was in Mexico on vacation. She has been called as a defence witness.
Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex with el-Mahroug, better known as Ruby, when she was 17, and then trying and cover it up. Both deny sexual contact.
El-Mahroug is the last witness due to testify, meaning that a verdict could come before the February 24-25 elections in which Berlusconi is heading a center-right coalition.
But Berlusconi’s defence lawyer, Niccolo Ghedini, filed a motion to suspend the proceeding, citing the demands of the electin campaign.
The prosecution opposed the request, saying the trial regards Berlusconi private life. El-Mahroug looked relaxed, chatting with her lawyer. She wore a dark parka with fur trim and carried a fashionable Louis Vuitton handbag.
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