Setback for Berlusconi as judges refuse to halt sex trial

JUDGES in Milan have rejected a request by Silvio Berlusconi’s lawyers to put on hold a trial where he is accused of paying for sex with an underage prostitute, in a legal setback for the Italian prime minister.

Berlusconi’s lawyers had asked for the trial to be suspended until February, when Italy’s top court is due to decide which judges have jurisdiction.

A suspension would have bought time for the billionaire, who faces a string of trials and is also fighting to stave off a market crisis threatening to send Italy’s debt sliding out of control.

Berlusconi’s lawyers have said that a Milan court has no right to preside over the case and that the 75-year-old should be tried by a special tribunal for ministers.

Parliament, in which Berlusconi’s centre-right coalition has a narrow but stable majority, has brought the matter before the Constitutional Court, which will start examining the case on February 7.

Berlusconi denies any wrongdoing and accuses Milan magistrates of waging a politically motivated campaign to oust him from power.