The Vatican: Leaks Trial, Part II

By Gaia Pianigiani
The New York Times
November 05, 2012

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/06/world/europe/the-vatican-leaks-trial-part-ii.html?_r=0

The Vatican computer expert accused of helping Pope Benedict XVI’s former butler of stealing the pope’s confidential papers had no reason to risk his career to help the butler because he did not know him well, his lawyer argued on Monday in the opening hearing of the second trial related to a security breach at the Vatican. The pope’s former butler, Paolo Gabriele, was convicted of leaking the stolen documents to the news media.

The computer expert, Claudio Sciarpelletti, 48, is charged with helping Mr. Gabriele by giving “wavering and contradictory” answers to the authorities about a closed envelope addressed personally to Mr. Gabriele and containing material that was found in his desk, the indictment read. Mr. Sciarpelletti’s lawyer explained his client’s contradictory statements as a reflection of his confused “emotional state.” The trial was adjourned until Saturday.