Court rejects Silvio Berlusconi's request to delay underage sex trial

An Italian court yesterday turned down a request from former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's defence for his trial for underage sex to be suspended until after February elections.

A Moroccan-born exotic dancer at the centre of the case, however, will not be testifying after Berlusconi's lawyers said they were taking her off their list of witnesses for the defence.

Berlusconi, who has launched his sixth election bid in two decades, is accused of paying for sex with Karima el-Mahroug in 2010 at his mansion near Milan when she was 17 and he was the prime minister.

The 20-year-old, who used the working name "Ruby the Heart Stealer", would have been testifying in the Milan court for the first time.

Judges said her written testimony, in which she referred to wild "Bunga Bunga" parties hosted by Berlusconi, will still be considered in the case.

Court attendance by Mahroug had been in doubt after she missed two previous hearings in December saying she was on a long holiday in Mexico.

Making his request for the trial to be suspended, lawyer Niccolo Ghedini said this was to avoid the proceedings being "exploited" for political ends.