Star witnesses
March 30, 2011
Defense lawyers in a sex trial against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi have called for actor George Clooney and soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo to give evidence in the Italian leader's favor.
The trial is due to begin on April 6, with Berlusconi accused of paying to have sex with dancer Karima El Mahroug - also known as "Ruby the Heart Stealer" - when she was aged just 17. Both Mahroug and Berlusconi deny the allegation.
Clooney and his girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis were among the guests invited to dinner parties at Berlusconi's luxury villa in Arcore, near Milan. Prosecutors claim that the parties were, in fact, sex orgies that involved strip-shows and prostitutes.
Clooney, who has a house near Arcore, has said that he has only met Berlusconi on one occasion - and that was to discuss aid for the Darfur region of Sudan.
Football star denies 'Ruby' claims
Ronaldo's name arose in connection with the case after Mahroug told judges that she had sex with the Real Madrid player after meeting him in a Milan nightclub. Ronaldo denies ever meeting Mahroug, or paying her 4,000 euros (5,600 dollars) for sex.
The defense team argues that Mahroug and other girls who attended parties hosted by Berlusoni have, in the past, falsely claimed the gatherings were orgies.
The names of both stars have been included in a list of 78 desired defense witnesses submitted to the investigating judge in the case. He will make the final decision about whether they will be called to testify.
Berlusconi is also accused of committing an abuse of power by asking police to release Mahroug when she was arrested for suspected theft last May.
Richard Connor (AFP, Reuters, SID)
Editor: Susan Houlton