Berlusconi tells court: girls took part in "burlesque competitions"
Reuters
2012-04-20
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A day in court for former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who faces charges that he paid for sex with an underage prostitute.
During a break the 75-year-old said he was only guilty of hosting quote "elegant" dinners.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI SAYING:
"As I've said, what happened in my house is simple. There have only been elegant dinners, and there was never a situation that was less than correct. There was a dining room, with at least six waiters of whom at least four were always present, in addition to musicians and security personnel who were going in and out, as well as my children who came by to say hello."
Earlier this week, a Moroccan model testified that one of the parties involved young women, sometimes in pairs, wearing nun's costumes and stripping while performing pole dances.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI SAYING:
"Some information that has come out from some of the so-called witnesses is that they dressed up as police officers. It's true. They were doing...what is it called again? They were taking part in a burlesque competition. And they trained for it because these women, by their very nature, are exhibitionists and add to that they are showgirls and like to put on a show and compete."
REPORTER ASKING OFF CAMERA: "Were you the judge?"
"I wasn't the judge, I was looking after myself, I liked it a lot."
On Friday, he said he was still giving money to the small army of women involved in the case, some of whom have contradicted his line of defense at the trial.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI SAYING:
"I am maintaining all the girls who have been ruined by this trial and the prosecutors, they have been forever dishonored. Some of them have lost their boyfriends, and maybe they'll never find another one again. Some of them will not work again, some have had to shut down commercial activities. I feel responsible because these girls have only committed one crime, which is to accept a dinner invitation at the prime minister's house."
The billionaire media magnate was forced from power last November.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
During a break the 75-year-old said he was only guilty of hosting quote "elegant" dinners.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI SAYING:
"As I've said, what happened in my house is simple. There have only been elegant dinners, and there was never a situation that was less than correct. There was a dining room, with at least six waiters of whom at least four were always present, in addition to musicians and security personnel who were going in and out, as well as my children who came by to say hello."
Earlier this week, a Moroccan model testified that one of the parties involved young women, sometimes in pairs, wearing nun's costumes and stripping while performing pole dances.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI SAYING:
"Some information that has come out from some of the so-called witnesses is that they dressed up as police officers. It's true. They were doing...what is it called again? They were taking part in a burlesque competition. And they trained for it because these women, by their very nature, are exhibitionists and add to that they are showgirls and like to put on a show and compete."
REPORTER ASKING OFF CAMERA: "Were you the judge?"
"I wasn't the judge, I was looking after myself, I liked it a lot."
On Friday, he said he was still giving money to the small army of women involved in the case, some of whom have contradicted his line of defense at the trial.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FORMER ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI SAYING:
"I am maintaining all the girls who have been ruined by this trial and the prosecutors, they have been forever dishonored. Some of them have lost their boyfriends, and maybe they'll never find another one again. Some of them will not work again, some have had to shut down commercial activities. I feel responsible because these girls have only committed one crime, which is to accept a dinner invitation at the prime minister's house."
The billionaire media magnate was forced from power last November.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
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