Berlusconi move against Mills judges denied
Verdict expected Saturday in bribery case
22 February, 13:39
In their petition, the defence lawyers had claimed bias by the judges in cutting witness lists and accelerating procedure to make sure the trial is not timed out. Hearings will resume Saturday when a verdict is likely to be reached. Milan prosecutors have requested that Berlusconi receive a five-year prison term for allegedly paying off Mills to hush up evidence in two of the ex-premier's previous trials.
Berlusconi has consistently maintained his innocence, saying he is being targeted by politically motivated judges.
Mills has testified that the $600,000 prosecutors say he received as a bribe was given to him by another person, not Berlusconi.
Berlusconi is also on trial in three other cases.
One regards allegations he paid for sex with an underage prostitute and used his power to try to cover it up, another concerns accusations of fraud at his media empire and the third regards alleged involvement in the publication of an illegally obtained wiretap.
The Italian premier's office is a civil plaintiff in the Mills proceedings and has requested 250,000 euros in damages from Berlusconi and Mills
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Guarda la foto1 di 1
(ANSA) - Milan, February 22 - An appeals court on Wednesday denied a petition from lawyers for Silvio Berlusoni to recuse the judges in a Milan trial where the media magnate and former Italian premier stands accused of bribing British tax lawyer David Mills.
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