Former paparazzo Corona to be questioned Thursday at Palazzo Chigi in case filed by Premier Giorgia Meloni over alleged false claims about her personal life.
11:25 AM
Fabrizio Corona, the former paparazzo and founder of the news site DillingerNews, will appear Thursday at Palazzo Chigi, the official seat of Italy's Prime Minister, for questioning in a defamation trial brought by Premier Giorgia Meloni.
The case stems from an article published on DillingerNews in October 2023 that suggested a romantic relationship between Meloni and Manlio Messina, a then-parliamentarian from the Fratelli d'Italia party. The article used conditional language and questions but made insinuations about Meloni's personal life during a period when she had recently ended a ten-year relationship with journalist Andrea Giambruno.
Meloni filed the defamation complaint in October 2023, naming both Corona and Luca Arnau, a journalist who directed the site. Messina also filed a complaint against Corona for the same article. The trial, originally scheduled to take place at the Milan Tribunal, will be held at Palazzo Chigi on Thursday, May 21.
The proceeding will include questioning by prosecutor Giovanni Tarzia, with Milan's chief prosecutor Marcello Viola attending. Judge Nicoletta Marcheggiani will preside. Corona's defense attorney, Ivano Chiesa, will have the opportunity to question Meloni. The court clerk and legal representatives for all parties will be present: Luca Libra for Meloni, Matteo Serpotta for Messina, and Alessio Pomponi for Arnau.
Corona declined the option of participating via videoconference, and Meloni exercised her corresponding right to request his in-person appearance at the government seat. The trial marks an unusual venue for a defamation case, with the judicial proceedings relocating to the prime minister's official residence for the day.
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