Defence lawyers cited forensic reports today to argue that suicide, not murder, was the real cause of the 1982 death of the Italian financier known as “God’s banker” because of his close ties to the Vatican.

Five suspects charged in the 1982 murder of an Italian banker who was found hanging from a London bridge went on trial in Rome today, but defence lawyers claimed that the victim committed suicide.

FOUR people were indicted yesterday on murder charges in connection with the death of Italian financier Roberto Calvi, the man known as ‘God’s Banker’ because of his close ties to the Vatican, whose body was found hanging in London in 1982, reports said.

Four people were indicted today for the murder of Italian financier Roberto Calvi, a banker with close ties to the Vatican whose body was found hanging under a London bridge in 1982, reports said.