Conviction of Berlusconi-linked lawyer upheld

An appeals court in Milan today upheld the conviction of British lawyer David Mills for accepting a bribe to lie in court to protect Silvio Berlusconi.

The decision is a potential embarrassment for the Italian premier, whose trial in the same corruption case is expected to restart soon following an Italian high court’s ruling that a law granting immunity to Italy’s highest public officials is unconstitutional.

A lower court found Mills guilty of corruption in May and sentenced him to four and a half years in jail.

The judges ruled that Mills received €400,000 to give false evidence in two 1990s trials to shield Mr Berlusconi and his Fininvest holding company from charges relating to the purchase of US film rights.