All acquitted in Sordi inheritance case

Rome, February 28 - All nine defendants in a trial over the inheritance of late great comic actor Alberto Sordi were acquitted by a Rome judge on Thursday. The nine, accused variously of taking advantage of a disabled person and receiving stolen goods, were acquitted "because there was no crime", judicial sources said. The defendants were charged with stealing more than 2.5 million euros from Sordi's elderly sister. Those accused of conniving to bilk Aurelia Sordi of the money include the heiress's butler, Arturo Artadi, who previously was Alberto's chauffeur, as well as two lawyers, Francesca Piccolella and Carlo Farina, together with a notary, Gabriele Sciumbata. The butler, two lawyers and notary were indicted on charges of taking advantage of an incapacitated person while six other people including a carer, a cook, a gardener, two waiters and a governess were accused of receiving stolen goods in the form of fake gifts from the heiress ranging in value from 150,000 to 400,000 euros. In all some 2.5 million euros allegedly was stolen from Aurelia, representing some 15-20% of her inheritance from her late brother, who died in 2003.