RELATED:Italy's Berlusconi indicted in prostitution probeBerlusconi, attending a cabinet meeting Rome, chose not to attend the opening session, which lasted about 10 minutes.Some 100 television crews from as far away as Australia had been vying for space in front of the courthouse after the judges ruled they would not be allowed to enter. About 100 journalists were expected inside the court.Berlusconi is accused of giving cash and jewels to Moroccan-born Karima El Mahroug, a dancer who goes by the stage name of Ruby, in exchange for sex when she was only 17 years old and thus too young under Italian law to be paid as a prostitute.Berlusconi is also accused of abusing the powers of his office to have Ruby released from police custody over unrelated theft allegations, in an apparent bid to prevent details of their connection emerging in official evidence.Berlusconi has denied the charges against him and has launched a string of bitter attacks on what he describes as leftist magistrates determined to destroy him politically.Already hit by a party revolt last year that nearly sank his center-right government, he has been hurt by the affair, which has drawn condemnation from women's groups, the Catholic Church and even the country's main business lobby.But public opinion in Italy, traditionally forgiving in questions of private morality, has not been as damning as it would be in many countries and his parliamentary majority has been strong enough to see off opposition calls on him to resign.
Berlusconi sex trial opens and immediately adjourned
Berlusconi denies charges, says targeted by magistrates; approval ratings hit but premier resists calls to resign.
RELATED:Italy's Berlusconi indicted in prostitution probeBerlusconi, attending a cabinet meeting Rome, chose not to attend the opening session, which lasted about 10 minutes.Some 100 television crews from as far away as Australia had been vying for space in front of the courthouse after the judges ruled they would not be allowed to enter. About 100 journalists were expected inside the court.Berlusconi is accused of giving cash and jewels to Moroccan-born Karima El Mahroug, a dancer who goes by the stage name of Ruby, in exchange for sex when she was only 17 years old and thus too young under Italian law to be paid as a prostitute.Berlusconi is also accused of abusing the powers of his office to have Ruby released from police custody over unrelated theft allegations, in an apparent bid to prevent details of their connection emerging in official evidence.Berlusconi has denied the charges against him and has launched a string of bitter attacks on what he describes as leftist magistrates determined to destroy him politically.Already hit by a party revolt last year that nearly sank his center-right government, he has been hurt by the affair, which has drawn condemnation from women's groups, the Catholic Church and even the country's main business lobby.But public opinion in Italy, traditionally forgiving in questions of private morality, has not been as damning as it would be in many countries and his parliamentary majority has been strong enough to see off opposition calls on him to resign.