witness: I see, yes, you’re right, I wasn’t accurate, I got confused. I mean that for a while, even after the woman from Moldova arrived, I continued doing that fixed schedule. It wasn’t until later that the situation changed in the way I said, after a trial period, I think. I got confused about that, but I’m sure I got home no later than 7.20 and that my son arrived soon afterwards.

assistant prosecutor: Which, as it happens, would allow you to give your son an alibi. Don’t you think it strange that on all the other questions of time you say you can’t be accurate and yet —

avvocato costamagna: Objection, Your Honour, prosecution is arguing with the witness, badgering her, and even asking her for an opinion, which is obviously inadmissible.

presiding judge: Let’s drop the word “badgering”, Avvocato. That seems to me an exaggeration. That said, Assistant Prosecutor, the witness has answered. Any evaluation of the evidence can be left until the time is right, in other words, when we come to closing statements. If you have other questions, please proceed.

assistant prosecutor: Very well, Your Honour. Signora, I still have a few questions. Do you have a criminal record?

witness: No.

assistant prosecutor: You’ve never been subject to legal proceedings?

witness: No.

assistant prosecutor: Would you be surprised if I told you that I have here a judgement concerning you, relating 50to a charge of resisting an officer of the law and aiding and abetting?

witness: I’ve never been convicted of anything. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

assistant prosecutor: Actually, I asked you if you had ever been subject to legal proceedings. This in fact is a ruling not to proceed because of an amnesty. May I approach, Your Honour? I would like to show the witness the document.

avvocato costamagna: Your Honour, I object to the assistant prosecutor’s methods. We don’t know what this document is, it wasn’t produced during the discovery phase and is now suddenly brought up in contempt of all the rules of discovery and of correct consultation between the parties. I object most strongly.

presiding judge: Assistant Prosecutor, before showing the document to the witness, please put it at the disposal of the defence. Avvocato Costamagna, do you need time to examine the document?

avvocato costamagna: Your Honour, while reiterating my objection to any inopportune production of documents, I ask you only for a few minutes, long enough to understand what it’s about and if it’s even slightly pertinent to the object of this trial, which I doubt.

At 10.25 the hearing is suspended and the witness is taken by the bailiff into the witness room. At 10.40 the hearing resumes.

presiding judge: We may resume. Does the defence have any observations to make?