«We have appealed. We still believe in Justice and in establishing the Truth. The cardinal's innocence has emerged clearly and we will fight to have it recognized by the Court of Appeal." This is what Maria Concetta Marzo and Fabio Viglione, lawyers of Cardinal Angelo Becciu, sentenced to five and a half years for an alleged distorted use of tens of millions of euros of Holy See funds, declared in a note.
«The cardinal has always served the Church and the Holy Father with a spirit of service and can go with his head held high, strong in his innocence», continue the lawyers. «The appeal of the promoter of justice demonstrates the obstinacy and closure in a theorem already shown since the investigation phases but also that the sentence succeeded in displeasing everyone, defense and prosecution», conclude Viglione and Marzo.
The reference is to the request presented by the Vatican Promoter of Justice, led by Alessandro Diddi, who appealed after the decision of the Oltretevere Court.
The appeal aims to bring back into play the requests for conviction already made in the first instance. Last Saturday, December 16, the Vatican Tribunal, presided over by Giuseppe Pignatone, issued nine sentences for a total of 37 years and one month of imprisonment - including that of Cardinal Angelo Becciu, for double embezzlement and aggravated fraud - and one acquittal, that of Msgr. Mauro Carlino.
Last July 26, Prosecutor Diddi had asked for a total of 73 years and one month's imprisonment for the ten defendants, including seven years and three months for the cardinal of Pattada.
Even if the prosecution system was substantially confirmed by the sentence, some crimes were declared non-existent, or absorbed by others, and still others reclassified, so the sentences inflicted were more limited than the prosecution's requests. However, at the moment, the PC's move can be said to be more of a tactical move, aimed at holding firm even in the second instance judgment and reiterating his conclusions and requests.
(Unioneonline)