Saturday, May 7, 2016

The case continues

In the later hours of this morning, the Director of the Vatican Press Centre, Father Federico Lombardi, SJ provided the following information to accredited journalists in relation to the legal proceedings currently in process within the Vatican relating to the disclosure of embargoed news and documents.

Today, Saturday, May 7, in the Vatican City Tribunal Hall, the most recent audience in the proceedings currently underway regarding the disclosure of embargoed news and documents took place.

The meeting supposed to begin at 9:30am but was slightly delayed.  Present this morning, other than the Judges (Professors Giuseppe Dalla Torre, Piero Antonio Bonnet, Paolo Papanti-Pellettier and Venerando Marano) and the Promotors of Justice (Professors Gian Piero Milano and Roberto Zannotti), all the accuseds: Lucio Ángel Vallejo Balda, Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui, Nicola Maio, Emiliano Fittipaldi and Gianluigi Nuzzi, were their respective lawyers: Emanuela Bellardini, Laura Sgrò, Rita Claudia Baffoni, Lucia Teresa Musso and Roberto Palombi.

During today's audience, further testimony was heard.  Five external witnesses were present - people not affiliated with Vatican personnel - of which, three were present at the request of Doctor Nuzzi.  The session was then dedicated to the testimony of Doctor Paolo Mieli, a noted journalist, and two book sellers: Mister Marco Bernardi and Ms. Paolo Brazzale.  Other witnesses who were not present despite having been summoned - Mr. Paolo Mondani and Mister Mario Benotti - will be contacted again and invited to attend a future audience.  One of them is a lawyer and the other is a Promotor of Justice who have not had an opportunity to denounce their testimony.

Following today's questioning of each of the witnesses, the respective transcripts were read aloud and approved.

Today's audience ended around 11:15am local time.

The next sessions will be held on Saturday, May 14 at 9:30am; on Monday, May 16 at 3:30pm and on Tuesday, May 17 at 10:30am.  At that time, it is anticipated that further testimony will be heard.

No comments: