The first hearing of the trial started today in the Court of Tempio Pausania (Sassari) against Ciro Grillo, Francesco Corsiglia, Edoardo Capitta and Vittorio Lauria, all 22-year-old Genoese, accused of group sexual violence against two girls, ended in the afternoon. The facts allegedly took place on the night between 16 and 17 July 2019, in the villa of the founder of the M5s, father of Ciro, in Costa Smeralda.

The panel of judges, chaired by Marco Contu, admitted 56 witnesses to the hearing, excluding only two journalists who had interviewed the defendants on the disputed facts from the substantial lists presented by the prosecutor Gregorio Capasso, from the pool of defense lawyers and the plaintiff lawyers .

Today the four defendants were not present in the courtroom, as well as the victims.

"It was a very serene and peaceful hearing - commented one of the defense lawyers, Antonella Cuccureddu -. On most of the issues the parties agreed".

The next hearing of the trial, which will be held behind closed doors, has been set for June 1, when the first witnesses among those indicated by the Prosecutor will be heard.

The number and names of those summoned will be communicated to the parties by the judge in the next few days.

Also during the next hearings, the judges will decide on the admission of the evidence presented by the defense and civil parties.

(Unioneonline / vl)