Summation arguments of the trial, day 1

Today, Tuesday, July 5, beginning at 9:30am in the Vatican City Tribunal Hall, the concluding phase of the process currently in progress regarding the publication of embargoed news and documents continued.  Present today, in addition to the Judges (Professors Giuseppe Della Torre, Piero Antonio Bonnet, Paolo Papanti-Pellettier and Venerando Marano) and the Prosecutors (Professors Gian Piero Milano and Roberto Zannotti), and the accused: Lucio Ángel Vallejo Balda, Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui and Nicola Maio) while Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fittipladi were absent.  All five of the lawyers (Emanuela Bellardini, Laura Sgrò, Rita Claudia Baffioni, Lucia Teresa Musso and Roberto Palombi) were in attendance.

Today's audience was dedicated to the lawyer for the accused, Emanuela Bellerdini, on behalf of the accused Vallejoy Balda, who concluded with the request - in the first instance - for full acquittal from all charges, or - as an alternative - for acquittal from the crime of conspiracy because the facts do not support such a finding due to insufficient proof of having committed the act of divulging embargoed documents, and a minimum sentence with extenuating circumstances, for the offence of disclosing confidential documents.

This was followed by the arraignment of the lawyer Laura Sgrò, in defence of the accused Francesca Immacolata Chaouqui, who conlcuded with a request for acquittal in the widest interpretation regarding all the charges.

The hearing concluded at 2:15pm.  Interventions from the other defence lawyers will continue tomorrow afternoon, Wednesday, beginning at 3:30pm.