Key takeaways:
- Cardinal Angelo Becciu was found guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to 5 ½ years in prison, making him the first cardinal ever to be prosecuted by the Vatican criminal court.
- The verdicts showed the defense had ample space to present their case and that the defense rights were respected.
- The outcome of the trial demonstrated that the Vatican justice system is capable of handling complex cases and will likely have a lasting impact.
The Vatican criminal court has handed down its verdicts in a 2 ½ year trial involving nearly 50 charges against 10 defendants, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu. The court found Becciu guilty of embezzlement and sentenced him to 5 ½ years in prison, making him the first cardinal ever to be prosecuted by the Vatican criminal court.
The other nine defendants received a combination of guilty verdicts and acquittals. Andrea Tornielli, the Vatican’s editorial director, said the verdicts showed the defense had ample space to present their case and that the defense rights were respected. The defense attorneys also praised Judge Giuseppe Pignatone’s even-handedness and said they were able to present their arguments amply.
Tornielli said the outcome of the trial showed that the judges acted with full independence based on documentary proofs and witnesses, not pre-confectioned theories. He added that the verdicts demonstrate that the Vatican justice system is capable of handling complex cases.
The trial, which aired the city state’s dirty laundry, was closely watched by Vatican watchers. It is the first time a cardinal has been prosecuted by the Vatican criminal court and the verdicts demonstrate that the court is capable of handling complex cases. The outcome of the trial will likely have a lasting impact on the Vatican justice system.
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