George Clooney and Cristiano Ronaldo named as witnesses in Berlusconi trial (VIDEO)
This combo image made of two file pictures taken in Rome — but not taken the same day — shows (L) US actor George Clooney and (R) Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
George Clooney and Cristiano Ronaldo may be called as defense witnesses at the trial of Silvio Berlusconi on charges of underage prostitution.
The Italian prime minister's lawyers have submitted a list of 78 witnesses that includes Clooney, Ronaldo and Italian government ministers, the Italian news agency Ansa reported.
They have also called Karima El Mahroug, a Moroccan runaway known throughout the now monthslong scandal as "Ruby Heartstealer," who was 17 when she allegedly attended sex parties held by Berlusconi, for the trial, which begins April 6.
The prosecutors' list of 132 witnesses includes Mahroug and 32 other women they believe attended so-called bunga bunga parties at Berlusconi's mansion near Milan in 2010, according to the Guardian.
Berlusconi's lawyers have described his dinner parties as "elegant" affairs where guests listened to song performances by the 74-year-old conservative prime minister and watched football on TV, according to DPA. But prosecutors allege the parties involved sex orgies.
Mahroug reportedly told investigators that Clooney was present at one dinner she attended at Berlusconi's mansion. Clooney's Italian girlfriend, Elisabetta Canalis, has denied that she or Clooney attended a dinner at the mansion.
Mahroug also told investigators she was paid for sex by soccer player Ronaldo, a claim denied by Ronaldo.
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