Tearful Ruby defends Berlusconi outside court

The nightclub dancer at the centre of Silvio Berlusconi’s sex trial staged a protest outside the court, alleging she had been unfairly pressured as part of a campaign against the former Italian prime minister.

Karima El Mahroug’s emotional and at times contradictory statement in defence of Berlusconi follows a protest last month by parliamentarians from his party outside the court as the media magnate tries to have the trial moved from Milan.

The charges against Berlusconi, which he denies, include paying for sex with El Mahroug, better known under her stage name “Ruby the Heartstealer”, when she was a minor.