|
Lawyers for the girl and the three police officers allegedly urged by Berlusconi to release her following a theft complaint did not sue for damages against the prime minister on Wednesday.
 |
|
The lawyer of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Giorgio Perroni (C), speaks to the press in front of Milan justice court during the first hearing of the "Ruby the Heart Stealer" case's trial on April 6, 2011. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's trial on charges of sex with an underage prostitute, Karima El Mahroug, nicknamed "Ruby the Heart Stealer", and abuse of power, opened and was immediately postponded by judges to May 31. [Xinhua]
|
After the brief hearing, el Mahrough's lawyer, Paula Boccardi, told reporters that demanding damages would be essentially admitting that her client was a prostitute, which she denies.
A women's rights group called "Arcidonna" announced it would separately file a civil suit against Berlusconi, accusing him of offending women over a period of 25 years.
By coincidence, all three judges and the main prosecutor in the case are women.
More than 150 people have been called as witnesses in the trial, including Hollywood star George Clooney, his Italian girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
"I am here to represent the discontent of Italians. Berlusconi is not ruling, but commanding the country due to his money and power. People are fed up with him," a retired teacher named Rosa Lazzaro told Xinhua. "Italy deserves a better example for its young generations," she added.
A 28-year-old man, Simone Piacelli, representing a group of young Italians, said Berlusconi's government had done important steps to help new generations.
"The premier's opponents have recently said he has no time to rule the country as he is too busy with his trials, but it is the (political) opposition parties who persecute him with all kinds of allegations," he said.
Since his first term as prime minister began in 1994, Berlusconi has faced at least 17 official criminal and civil allegations.
He is currently involved in four trials. After appearing in court for the first time in eight years for a tax fraud case last week, Berlusconi said he planned to attend the next hearings barring engagements stemming from his official duty.
|
