Woman at centre of Berlusconi sex trial hits out

The Moroccan woman at the centre of ex-Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s sex-for-hire trial has denounced what she says is psychological warfare being waged against her by prosecutors.

Karima el-Mahroug, better known as Ruby, read out a lengthy statement today to reporters in front of Milan’s courthouse denying she was a prostitute and insisting that prosecutors hear her side of the story.

Mr Berlusconi is accused of having paid for sex with Ms el-Mahroug while she was a teenager during the infamous “bunga-bunga” parties at his villa near Milan, and then trying to cover it up. Both deny sexual contact.

Her protest came at a politically sensitive time – Mr Berlusconi’s centre-right party is seeking to muscle its way into a governing coalition after finishing second in inconclusive February elections.