Audio By Carbonatix
Hollywood star George Clooney brought chaos to an Italian fraud trial as fans frantically tried to catch sight of him as he gave evidence.
Clooney, 49, smiled and waved to fans as they crowded into the court building with the extra police who had been called in struggling to keep control.
Trial judge Pietro Caccialanza had to call for order several times and halt proceedings as the din from fans - many of them middle-aged women - made it difficult to hear other witnesses.
Clooney was the star witness in a fraud case against two men and a woman who had tried to launch a fashion label called GC Exclusive by George Clooney cashing in on his A-list celebrity status.
He arrived for the case at a Milan court smiling and waving, along with his lawyer Grazia Maria Mantelli, prosecutor Letizia Mannella, and two bodyguards.
As he walked through the packed corridors, Clooney joked: "Please let my lawyer through, don't crowd her. Thank you for your understanding."
Dressed in a blue suit and tie, Clooney spoke to his legal team and lawyers as the judge continually asked the public gallery to be quiet and not take photographs.
As he entered court, Clooney, who is a civil witness, said: "I am here because I believe in justice. I am here to speak because some people are trying to use my name to gain advantage not over me but of others."
The three defendants are Vincenzo Cannalire, Francesco Galdelli and Vanja Goggi, who are said to have created the GC label as part of an intricate fraud, conning suppliers and buyers into thinking Clooney was behind it.
As Clooney began his evidence, there was a minor glitch with the microphone breaking, just as the star gave his date of birth (May 6, 1961) and he was handed another by the judge.
Clooney began by sarcastically complimenting the three accused and said of the fake clothes and documents: "You have done a very good job. You should be very proud," to which the judge asked him to refrain from making similar comments.
There were also tense moments with the legal teams of the three accused with one of the lawyers saying: "We all know that Mr Clooney is an actor - perhaps he is acting here ?" which earned him a glare from the American.
Clooney was also shown several documents which the trio had allegedly used to pull off their fraud which again he said were "very good" but not his genuine signature.
He was also shown photographs of himself dressed in jeans and smoking.
He said: "These are clearly photo montages. I don't smoke and I don't wear that make of jeans. I don't even wear that watch that is in one of those pictures."
During his evidence, Clooney was asked to list the brands he did advertise for in Italy and there were roars of laughter as he told the court: "You all know the Martini one right? No Martini - no party."
Clooney's evidence lasted for two hours after which he was escorted from the court by bodyguards.
When asked what he thought of Italian justice he said: "It's very good. It was very straightforward. It's easy when you know you are right."
The case continues.
Source: Sky News
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