Vatican butler found guilty of stealing papal documents

VATICAN CITY
Irish Times

A Vatican court has found Pope Benedict’s former butler guilty of stealing sensitive documents and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.

The court delivered its verdict after a two-hour deliberation on the last day of the trial of Paolo Gabriele. The prosecution had asked for a three-year sentence.

The defence asked the court to reduce the charges from “aggravated theft” to “misappropriation” and for him to be freed.

Pope Benedict will “most likely” pardon Gabriele, a Vatican spokesman said today. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi also told reporters the court reached its verdict in “full independence” without any interference from Vatican officials.

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