Former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has lost a legal attempt to halt his pay-for-sex trial so he can concentrate on a general election campaign.
Judges deliberated for four hours, and also ruled they did not need to hear evidence from the woman at the centre of the case – Karima el-Mahroug.
Ms el-Mahroug, nicknamed Ruby the Heart-stealer, had appeared in court after failing to show on two previous dates.
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