Berlusconi fails to prevent Mills evidence at bribery trial

Silvio Berlusconi has failed in an emergency attempt to obtain a High Court order preventing evidence relating to corruption allegations being taken in a British court.

Italy's former prime minister made the application for an interim injunction pending an attempt to bring a full-scale legal challenge.

He sought the order to prevent English lawyer David Mills giving video-link evidence to Milan from City of Westminster magistrates' court on Monday. His application was considered in private and refused by Mr Justice Bean, sitting in London.

Mills and his wife, former Labour cabinet minister Tessa Jowell, separated in 2006 after she found out that he had paid off part of their mortgage with £350,000 at the centre of an Italian bribery case involving Mr Berlusconi.

The Italian is facing a trial, previously suspended under a temporary immunity law, on bribery allegations involving Mr Mills. He denies wrongdoing and has claimed the charges are politically motivated.