Berlusconi Sex Trial Adjourned After 7 Minutes

Silvio Berlusconi didn't show up today for the start of his sex trial—whose opening session ended up being all of seven minutes long. The hearing was devoted to formalities, and the trial was adjourned to May 31. Some 100 police patrolled the courthouse, which was surrounded by TV crews and other media from around the world. Berlusconi, meanwhile, was holding a ministerial meeting in Rome to discuss Libya.

Berlusconi supporters have pledged to maintain a vigil on a traffic island opposite the courthouse where dozens have gathered for recent hearings in three other pending Berlusconi cases, all involving corruption and fraud allegations. The left-leaning opposition, meanwhile, had also planned its own anti-Berlusconi demonstration nearby for the trial's opening. (Click to find out which Hollywood celeb might have to testify.)