VATICAN CITY
Crux
Nicole Winfield
July 7, 2016
SPECIAL TO CRUX
VATICAN CITY – A lawyer for an Italian journalist on trial in the Vatican for publishing classified Holy See information insisted Wednesday on the right of the press to report the news, saying: “Since when is asking questions a crime?”
Attorney Roberto Palombi made his closing arguments in the case that has drawn scorn from media watchdog groups. Two journalists, as well as three people affiliated with a papal reform commission, are accused of conspiring to publish confidential information.
A verdict is expected Thursday. The defendants face up to eight years in prison though Vatican prosecutors asked for a maximum of three years and nine months for one of the commission members.
Journalists Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fittipaldi wrote books last year based in part on confidential Vatican documents exposing greed, mismanagement and corruption in the Holy See.
Palombi, Nuzzi’s attorney, challenged the Vatican tribunal’s jurisdiction to even hear the case since the alleged crime occurred in Italy, not on Vatican territory.
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