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The lawyer representing former papal butler Paolo Gabriele has quit just weeks before before Gabriele is due to stand trial for stealing confidential papers.
Attorney Carlo Fusco, a childhood friend of Gabriele, told Associated Press’ Nicole Whitfield that his decision to quit is the result of a difference in opinion over the defence strategy.
Fusco declined to specify the differences in strategy saying he did not want to prejudice Gabriele’s search for a new lawyer, but said the decision was taken jointly with Gabriele.
It is not clear whether Gabriele’s other lawyer Cristiana Aru would remain as council, however Fusco said that his resignation did not necessarily mean there will be any delay in starting the trial.
The trial is expected to start sometime after this fall when the Vatican’s court resumes work after its summer recess.
“We’re still friends. We have differences about the trial, but we’re still friends,” Fusco told the Associated Press.
Gabriele, a 46-year-old father of three, was arrested May 23 after police found papal documents in his Vatican City home. He was held in a Vatican detention unit until July 21, when he was placed under house arrest.
The indictment paints Gabriele as a religiously inspired but misguided would-be whistle-blower. He was quoted as telling investigators that he was inspired by his faith to shed light on the evil and corruption he found in the church and that he wanted to “shock” the church and bring it back on the right track.
The indictment also charged Claudio Sciarpelletti, a 48-year-old computer expert in the Secretariat of State, with aiding and abetting Gabriele.
Both are expected to be tried together.
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