World News 18-11-2002 Ex-Prime Minister Jailed For Murder who: Former Italian PM Giulio Andreotti what: Sentenced to 24 years in prison for murder of journalist where: Perugia when: Yesterday snippet: Giulio Andreotti, the "little Caesar" of post-war Italian politics who was Prime Minister seven times, was found guilty of murdering a journalist and sentenced to 24 years` imprisonment yesterday, reports this morning`s Independent. "The verdict, which shocked Rome`s political establishment on a quiet Sunday, was delivered by the assizes court in Perugia, Umbria, and overturned the senator-for-life`s acquittal in the case three years ago." "Prosecutors said that Mafia gunmen had killed magazine editor Mino Pecorelli in 1979 at Andreotti’s behest," explains The Times, "because the former Prime Minister feared that the journalist was about to publish damaging information relating to Andreotti’s alleged role in the kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro, another former Christian Democrat Prime Minister, by the Red Brigades in 1978." In reply, Andreotti claimed that he was the victim of Mafia bosses "who resented his crackdown on organised crime." The verdict is also likely to have enormous political repercussions, reckons The Guardian, "with current prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, currently on trial for corruption in Milan. Mr Berlusconi, who accuses the Milan prosecutors of political prejudice against him, said Mr Andreotti`s conviction was yet another example of politicised magistrates attempting to rewrite history. The justice system had gone mad, he said, and was dominated by factionalism and persecution." "It`s a bitter surprise," Andreotti`s lawyer, Franco Coppi, said last night, while Andreotti himself maintained his innocence: "I have always believed in justice and I continue to believe, even if this evening I find it difficult to accept such an absurdity," he said. [... more]

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