Meloni to Testify in Milan Defamation Trial Over Dillinger Article
Her in-person testimony could supply key evidence about an allegedly false romantic claim that underpins the criminal case against Fabrizio Corona.
Overview
- The case stems from an October 20, 2023 Dillingernews.it article that alleged a romantic link between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Manlio Messina and prompted criminal complaints and civil claims by both men.
- The court was told on Monday that Meloni will travel to Milan to testify in person on 28 September as a partie civile and a principal witness for the prosecution.
- Former Dillinger director Luca Arnau testified in court that Fabrizio Corona supplied the disputed item, saying Corona presented the claim as certain and that Arnau felt betrayed after it was denied.
- Deputy prosecutor Giovanni Tarzia has urged the court to hear Meloni because her testimony could clarify how the publication affected her and why prosecutors pursued aggravated defamation charges.
- Beyond the immediate case, the trial raises questions about source verification and editorial responsibility at Dillingernews.it and could affect Corona’s wider legal exposure from similar media-driven disputes.