The opening day of Lionel Messi’s trial for unpaid taxes lasted barely an hour after all witnesses failed to appear.
Over 200 journalists had gathered in Barcelona for the court case, that has got off to a remarkably slow start.
Among those that did not attend on Tuesday was the Barcelona forward’s mother Celia Cuccitini, who the judge indicated to excuse on the grounds of being a wife and mother to the accused.
Jesus Navarro, Messi’s lawyer, put forward the player’s case, while Enrique Bacigalupo argued for the prosecution before the four key witnesses all either arrived late or declined to show at the hearing.
Messi and his father Jorge, both accused of failing to pay correct tax on the forward’s earnings, will take to the stand on Thursday.
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