MILAN, Italy, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Two women Friday asked to join a lawsuit alleging former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi paid to have sex with an underage girl.
Italian actress Barbara Guerra and Brazilian model Iris Berardi asked to join the suit against Lombardy regional Councillor Nicole Minetti, who is charged, along with three others, of procuring prostitutes for Berlusconi during his time as prime minister, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.
"They were victims and injured parties," said attorney Luigi Faggella, who represents the two women.
With the addition of the two women, the civil plaintiffs list now stands at 33.
Lawyers in the case agreed to a tentative hearing schedule Friday because of a nearing time limit under the statute of limitations, ANSA said.
Closing statements are to be made Feb. 9, just before the mid-February expiration date. Should the trial not finish by that date, the case could be thrown out.
Berlusconi, who has seen multiple trials expire, said he expects the Minetti case to expire as well, ANSA said.
The former premier is also facing two other trials on charges of tax fraud and paying an underage prostitute for sex, then using his position to try to cover it up.
