Sleaze-hit Berlusconi accused of new attempt to dodge corruption trials

Sleaze-hit Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government are set to consider another law which could throw out his two current corruption trials. The move comes just weeks after an immunity bill, which critics said was tailor-made for him to escape justice, was declared unconstitutional and overturned. However today, after a meeting with his ally Gianfranco Fini, it emerged that a bill would be drafted over the next few days which would propose slashing the usual lengthy Italian trials to a maximum of six years. The legislation, if passed, would see Berlusconi's two pending trials - one involving David Mills, the estranged husband of Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, thrown out. There was surprise at how Deputy Prime Minister Fini seemed to have accepted the proposal, when only a few weeks ago he was against any such legislation that would favour Berlusconi in his ongoing legal dilemmas. After a two-hour meeting with the Prime Minister, Fini said:''We have discussed the possibility of lawmakers presenting a bill... to define a positive time-frame within which a trial in its three stages must take place. 'We also discussed the need to direct more resources into the justice system - you could say that we discussed immunity but not impunity.' The proposed bill includes reducing the time limit for the three stages of trials for 'non serious crimes' punishable by sentences of ten years or less, to be completed within six years. If this were passed it would mean that both Berlusconi's ongoing trials, which are due to begin again later this month, would be thrown out as the first two year stage has already passed. Furious Antonio Di Pietro, of Italy's anti-sleaze Party of Values, said: 'This is a criminal act, that only this government would even consider passing. 'I am disappointed that Fini has taken part in this criminal game who up until only a day or so ago had said he wanted no part in anything like this but he has accepted his 30 pieces of silver.'

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