Report from the "Diaz School" trial against 29 policemen. Hearing held on July the 9th.
We start at 9.30 by the usual roll call and questions. This morning attorney Biondi arrives too, one hour late. Only attorney Rossi is here on the injured persons side, as vice-president of the Association of Democratic Jurists.
The judge starts by reading his decision about the request attorney Passeggi presented during the previous hearing. The lawyer had underlined the "particular" situation of the accused persons whose defender has a legitimate impediment [1]: in this case, the prescription date is shifted. The judge decides to go on with the trial.
Attorneys Duilia and Malossi present the original documents regarding two civil plaintiffs who, during the previous hearing, presented only copies of such documents.
The Public Prosecutor asks to record the request of the decree of appointment of attorney Porciani, due to the past problems with the attorney family name: some of the acts was referring to "PorGiani" instead of "Porciani". Porciani defends Ledoti. The recording request is accepted and the trial goes on.
Porciani asks for two days more to examine the two news civil plaintiff constitutions with his absent clients. The judge gives the lawyer ten minutes to evaluate the two filed acts.
Mascia, who defends Mortola and Dominici, starts by speaking in "general and generic" opposition against all the civil plaintiff constitutions. Mascia goes on through the end by referring also to art. 147, and demands the exclusion of all civil plaintiffs because they miss the needed requisites described in the penal code.
Moser (civil plaintiff attorney-in-law) underlines he does not understand the sense of the defender speech. He asks for the detailed opposition to each of the civil plaintiffs constitution. The judge replies to Moser that the defense counsel is free to choose its strategy and nobody can interfere.
The whole counsel joins attorney Mascia. Romeo (civil plaintiff attorney) recalls that Mascia can speak on the behalf of his own clients only. Then attorney Gazzolo joins Mascia arguments. Attorney Zunino (defending Troiani and Fabbrocini) notices some problem but he does not explicitely mention them: he will speak only if the trial goes on to the judgment, he asks. In the meanwhile, he also joins Mascia, in compliance with the code. The judge asks about any other defense intervention. All the lawyers join Mascia.
The Prosecutor leaves it to the judge to decide.
A new speech is made by attorney Porciani, concerning the Bartesaghi (Sara's mother) case only. He recalls that, according to past sentences by the Court of Cassation, being civil plaintiff on the behalf of an adult (more than eighteen years old) is not allowed. No other opposition is presented by the lawyers.
Civil plaintiff attorneys ask Mascia to deliver the memoire his opening speech was based on, which he exhibits since the beginning of the hearing. Somewhat ironically, attorney Mascia says it is just a contribution to the discussion!? "We do not want to congest this court!, since we respect the judge, the Prosecutor and even our civil plaintiff colleagues. We should write two thousand pages for 110 constitutions!..." as he says. In a slight rumble, the whole defense cousel declares that its silence is not a sign of quiet acceptance toward the civil plaintiff constitutions. The judge records that the memoire is not delivered and takes note of the request. The Prosecutor leaves it to the judge to decide. Then the judge concedes 15 minutes to evaluate the reasons and the documents the defense has presented.
Back in the court, the judge excludes some constitution, including that of Guadagnucci against the accused Gava and Fabbrocini. Another exclusion is due to mistakes in the documentation presented.
Attorney Moser (civil plaintiff) reminds that the excluded civil plaintiff are already formally constituted, and that the defense has just announced an opposition. Such a generic opposition should be rejected. As regards Bartesaghi, her attorney-in-law will speak. Attorney Torro speaks on the behalf of Bartesaghi, who rejects the request, by underlining that she had constituted herself as a civil plaintiff on her own and depositing a copy of sentences following the ones quoted by the defense.
Attorney Manlio Vicino deposits the acts on the behalf of Radio Onda D'Urto, including the record of June, 6th assembly and a copy of the documents released by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.
For what concerns the remaining civil plaintiff constitutions, the judge reserves his decision for the next hearing. The monday hearing is canceled and we will be back in the court on Wednesday, 14th, at 9.30 am. The Prosecutor will start and the judge will release his decision.
Notes:
[1] According to the italian law, a hearing can be postponed if a lawyer is absent because of a "legitimate impediment", that is, a reason of sufficient relevance according to the judge.
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