Silvio Berlusconi too busy to attend trial

Published on Monday 21 March 2011 15:33

A LAWYER for Italian prime minster Silvio Berlusconi last night said that the premier would appear at his trials as his officials duties allowed.

Berlusconi, 74, has previously said he wanted to defend himself in person, but he skipped a hearing yesterday due to a cabinet meeting on Libya.

Lawyer Niccolo Gheddini said the premier would appear "within the possible limits" of his duties.

In yesterday's trial, an expert for the prosecution traced the origins of 370,000 Berlusconi is alleged to have paid British lawyer David Mills to lie, in another case involving the prime minister's business dealings.

It is one of four cases active in Milan, three of which are related to business dealings.

Berlusconi's trial for allegedly paying a Moroccan teenager for sex starts next month.

He has denied all the charges against him.

In December, violence erupted on the streets of Rome after Berlusconi won back-to-back confidence votes in the Italian parliament, narrowly surviving one of the toughest fights of his political career. Rioters torched cars, smashed windows and clashed with police.