Giovanni Di Stefano (fraudster): Difference between revisions

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+'''Giovanni di Stefano''' (born [[1955]]) is an [[Italy|Italian]] [[European lawyer]] and [[advocate]].
-'''Giovanni di Stefano''' (born [[1955]]) is an [[Italy|Italian]] [[European lawyer]].<ref name="hoogstraten"/> He is based in Italy, but frequently works as a legal [[advocate]] in the [[United Kingdom]], amongst other places. He has made a reputation acting in many high-profile criminal cases in [[England and Wales]]. He gained the nickname '''The Devil's Advocate'''<ref name="devil"/> in the UK media for defending "some of the country's most notorious villains",<ref name="king">{{cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4394095.stm
-| publisher = [[BBC News]]| title = Jonathan King's 'best friend'| date=  2005-03-31| accessdate = 2007-05-24}}</ref> and for his comment that he would "...defend [[Adolf Hitler]] or [[Satan]]."<ref name="king"/>
-He was a business associate of [[Serbs|Serbian]] [[paramilitary]] leader "Arkan" ([[Željko Ražnatović]])<ref name="devil">{{cite web| url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,818840,00.html| title = The devil's advocate| author = Esther Addley| publisher = [[The Guardian]]| date=  2002-10-25| accessdate =2007-05-24}}</ref> and was one of the defence team in the trial of [[Saddam Hussein]].<ref>{{citeweb |url=http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0506/14/ltm.02.html |title=CNN transcript: "Case Against Saddam; Behind the Verdict" |date=Aired 14 June 2005 |publisher=CNN }}</ref> ''[[The Scotsman]]'' describes Di Stefano as a "colourful and often controversial lawyer";<ref>{{cite web | last = Wright | first = Angus | title = Marr brothers promise to write off Dundee debts | publisher = [[The Scotsman]] | date = 2003-12-04 | url = http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=1331342003 | accessdate = 2007-12-29 }}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' has called him "surely the only man in the world to claim the personal friendship of Saddam Hussein and the personal enmity of [[Delia Smith]]".<ref name="Guardian-portrait">{{citeweb |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,818840,00.html |title=Portrait: Giovanni di Stefano |publisher=''[[The Guardian]]'' |author='''Esther Addley''' |date= October 25, 2002}}</ref> He also has founded a political party, taken a considerable interest in [[football (soccer)|football]] and turned his hand as a [[Record producer|music producer]].
-==Biography==
-Born in [[Campobasso]], in rural southern Italy, he moved to [[Irchester]] in [[Northamptonshire]] in 1961, aged six.<ref name="king"/>  He gained a fortune in business in his twenties by importing videotapes from Hong Kong.<ref name="king"/>
-===Legal career===
-Di Stefano runs an international legal practice from offices in [[Rome]], the Studio Legale Internazionale. He has been involved in a number of major cases in the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[Republic of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web | title = studiolegaleinternazionale: Cases list | publisher = | date = | url = http://www.studiolegaleinternazionale.com/cases.php4 | accessdate = 2007-12-29}}}}</ref>
-===Notable clients===
-* [[Saddam Hussein]]<ref>{{citeweb |url=http://www.daylife.com/photo/06QffNr1PJ62C |quote=Giovanni di Stefano, a defence lawyer for Saddam Hussein, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in the Jordanian capital of Amman, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006. |author=AP Photo/Mohammad abu Ghosh |title=Photograph}}</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jun/21/iraq.davidfickling Gunmen kill Saddam lawyer]</ref>
-* [[Jeremy Bamber]]<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/3567653.stm  BBC article and video interview] for ''[[HARDtalk]]'' by [[David Jessel]] (first broadcast 2004-03-25)</ref>
-* [[Ronald Biggs]]<ref>{{citeweb |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/7331261.stm  |title=Biggs' bid for Christmas release |publisher=BBC News|author= |date=April 4, 2008 }}</ref>
-* [[Nicholas van Hoogstraten]]<ref>{{citeweb |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2843615.stm  |publisher=BBC NEWS |title=Hoogstraten to fight conviction |author= |date=March 12, 2003 }}</ref>
-* Ian Strachan, one of the defendants in the [[2007 Royal blackmail plot]].<ref>{{citeweb |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article3127413.ece |publisher=Independent UK |title=Checkered career of blackmail case 'devil's advocate' |author=Cathy Vervier |date=November 4, 2007 }}</ref>
-===Personal legal history===
-Di Stefano reports being motivated by "a sense of injustice" after (stating that) his [[1986]] conviction for fraud "was quashed".<ref name=bestfriend>{{citeweb |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4394095.stm |title=Jonathan King's 'best friend'|publisher=''BBC News'' |date=March 31, 2005 |author='''Tom Geoghegan'''}}</ref> According to ''[[The Sunday Times|The Sunday Times Magazine]]'', in 1986, Di Stefano was convicted after a 78-day trial and was jailed for five years<ref name=untohimself>{{citeweb |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article554239.ece |title=A law unto himself |author='''Russell Miller''' |publisher= ''Times Online (www.timesonline.co.uk)'' |date=August 21, 2005 }}</ref> though the [[BBC News 24|BBC]] reports that di Stefano has stated this was then quashed on the second appeal but that "a sense of injustice remains, making each victory against the system a sweet revenge."<ref name=bestfriend /> The charges were for conspiracy to obtain property by deception and fraudulent trading.<ref name=untohimself /> On 15 January 2004 ''The Guardian'' reported<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2004/jan/15/NHS.shipman2 The Guardian]</ref> that di Stefano's legal status was under investigation by the [[Law enforcement in the United Kingdom|police]] and the [[Law Society of England and Wales|Law Society]].<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/shipman/Story/0,2763,1127523,00.html Fraudster lawyer's claim to act for Shipman is bogus, says family's solicitor]</ref> Following this investigation, no action was taken against him.
-''The Scotsman'' has published records which it says show that di Stefano's first attempt to appeal the conviction was dismissed.<ref name=Scotsman>{{cite web | last = Hannan | first = Martin | title = Giovanni Di Stefano: The Truth | publisher = [[The Scotsman]] | date = 2003-10-12 | url = http://news.scotsman.com/giovannidistefano/Giovanni-Di-Stefano-The-Truth.2469479.jp | accessdate = 2007-12-29 }}</ref> According to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit]] Circuit di Stefano was deported and subsequently denied entry to the United States in 1993 due to his conviction.<ref>{{cite web | coauthors = Presiding judges, Browning, Sneed and Nelson | title = Giovanni DI STEFANO, Plaintiff-Appellant v.  Benedict J. FERRO, District Director INS, Rome Italy; Janet Reno, Attorney General, Defendants-Appellees. (no. 94-55822)| work = | publisher = United States 9th Circuit| date = 1995-04-26 | url = https://www.fastcase.com/Google/Start.aspx?C=b185058bdfc30d6b4804b0ffb523cfc602f2384b40a2cbf2&D=aad6f19e899d366fe3171d5c943921d93a03391abec9e669 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2007-12-29 }}</ref>
-===Italian ''avvocato''===
-In 2002 the Governor of [[Belmarsh (HM Prison)|HM Prison Belmarsh]] opposed his legal access to a client in prison, but the case of ''R (Van Hoogstraten) v Governor of Belmarsh Prison''<ref name=hoogstraten>Regina (Van Hoogstraten) v Governor of Belmarsh Prison [2003] 1 WLR 264 </ref> in the High Court (23 September 2002) held that Di Stefano could not be denied the right to visit a client. The right of a qualified European Union lawyer to practise in a country other than their country of origin is governed by the provisions of the (United Kingdom) European Communities (Services of Lawyers) Order 1978 (SI 1978/1910)(Amended 2004).<ref>[http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/professional/conduct/guideonline/view=page.law?POLICYID=108 "Annex 10A European Communities (Services of Lawyers) Order 1978"]</ref>
-===2005 cases===
-As of April 2005, his law firm's website is hosting a petition to free the ailing [[Ronald Biggs]], one of the the [[Great Train Robbery (1963)|Great Train Robbers]].<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://www.studiolegaleinternazionale.com/petition.php4
-| title = Biggs petition
-| accessdate = 2007-05-24
-}}</ref>
-===2007 cases===
-On [[17 March]] [[2007]] he wrote to [[Lord Goldsmith]], the [[Attorney General]], asking for leave to prosecute Judge [[Rauf Rashid Abd al-Rahman]] (the judge who sentenced Saddam Hussein) under the Geneva Conventions Act 1957.<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/hotline/2007/04/prosecuting-saddams-trial-judge-in-uk.php
-| title = Prosecuting Saddam's trial judge in the UK
-| date=  2007-04-27
-| accessdate = 2007-05-24
-}}</ref>
-===2008 cases===
-On [[January 14]], [[2008]] he was reported as saying "Hurried justice is no justice" after a UK client who had won £1million on the [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|National Lottery]] failed to attend court as a witness in an assault case. Di Stefano said in court that she had booked a holiday to [[Spain]] before being summoned and had not been able to prepare her statement on her return, but the judge jailed her for 14 days anyway.<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/7187984.stm
-| title = Jailed lotto winner loses appeal
-| date=  2008-01-14
-| accessdate = 2008-01-14
-}}</ref>
-On [[15 January]] [[2008]] di Stefano said that he knew of a sixth victim of [[Moors murders|Moors murderers]] [[Ian Brady]] and [[Myra Hindley]] called Jennifer Tighe<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article692218.ece
-| title = ‘Jennifer sixth Myra victim’
-| date=  2008-01-16
-| accessdate = 2008-01-17
-}}</ref> who he said had disappeared after saying she was going to the cinema in Manchester on [[30 December]] [[1964]].<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=509166&in_page_id=1879
-| title = Did Myra Hindley murder 17 more children?
-| date=  2008-01-20
-| accessdate = 2008-01-20
-}}</ref> He said he had a photo of her, and intended to speak to Brady to see if the killer would confess to this latest allegation.<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article688720.ece
-| title = 'Sixth' Myra victim identified
-| date=  2008-01-15
-| accessdate = 2008-01-15
-}}</ref>
-On [[21 January]] [[2008]] the Greater Manchester Police issued a statement saying that Jennifer Tighe was alive and that the suggestion that she was a victim was speculative and had no basis in fact. The spokesman added "Mr di Stefano has previously made claims regarding the Moors murders in the media but has not provided any detail to Greater Manchester Police."<ref>[http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/5497007523AD83EC802573D7005BDFA9.htm Moors murder 'victim' is 'alive] - Accessed [[January 26]], [[2008]]</ref>
-In a statement released on his website dated 21 January 2008 di Stefano stated and cited email correspondence with the GMP and invited them to interview his client, who he said had always been "ready, willing and able" to assist with any enquiry. He also stated that no evidence had been supplied by the GMP other than a statement that Ms Jennifer Tighe was actually alive, and invited the GMP to provide proper evidence.<ref>[http://www.studiolegaleinternazionale.com/blogHome.php4?blogId=1771&n.x=33&n.y=7 Studio Legale Internazionale] (Jan 21 entry)</ref>
-==Other interests==
-===Football===
-In association with Arkan he purchased control of the Serbian second division football club [[FK Obilić]];<ref name="Dundee">{{cite web
-| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee/3122537.stm
-| publisher = [[BBC Sport]]
-| title = Di Stefano on board at Dens
-}}</ref> within two seasons the club had won a place in the [[UEFA Champions League]].  Di Stefano announced his intention to purchase [[Dundee F.C.]] in 1999, however his bid failed due to adverse publicity.<ref name="Dundee"/> In January 2001, di Stefano announced his intention to purchase a stake in [[Norwich City F.C.]] from its former vice-chairman, however the deal failed to materialise.<ref>{{cite web
-| title = Canaries sing for stakeholder power
-| url = http://www.supporters-direct.org/docs/issue7.pdf
-| publisher = [[Department of Culture, Media and Sport]]
-| date = June 2002
-| accessdate = 2007-11-08
-}}</ref> In 2002, di Stefano entered into talks to purchase a 60% stake in [[Northampton Town F.C.]],<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article189891.ece
-| title = Arkan's lawyer has ambitions to take over Northampton
-| publisher = The Independent
-| date = 2002-5-22
-| accessdate = 2007-11-05
-}}</ref> however di Stefano's valuation of the club changed following an [[Extraordinary General Meeting|EGM]], and the deal fell through.<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/news/2002/08/27/cobblers_deal.shtml
-| title = Cobblers Deal Off
-| publisher = [[BBC Sport]]
-| date = 2002-08-27
-| accessdate = 2007-11-05
-}}</ref> Di Stefano approached the Dundee board again in 2003, and was appointed as a director on [[7 August]] [[2003]].<ref name="Dundee"/> Initially the club attracted big-name players such as [[Craig Burley]] and [[Fabrizio Ravanelli]], but the club quickly ran into financial difficulties, 15 senior players were released from their contracts,<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee/3419865.stm
-| publisher = [[BBC Sport]]
-| title = Di Stefano steps down
-| date = 2004-01-22
-| accessdate = 2007-11-05
-}}</ref> and di Stefano resigned from the club on [[22 January]] [[2004]].<ref>{{cite web
-| publisher = The Courier
-| title = Di Stefano quits but still has eyes for Dundee FC
-| url = http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2004/01/23/newsstory5554723t0.asp
-}}</ref> In April 2005, he proclaimed an interest in investing approximately €1m in [[Ireland|Irish]] football club [[Shelbourne F.C.]],<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/4927002.stm
-| publisher = [[BBC Sport]]
-| title = Di Stefano requests Shels talks
-| date=  2006-04-20
-| accessdate = 2007-05-24
-}}</ref> but the club rejected his interest, citing his decision to let his intentions be known to the media first as the reason.<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://www.shelbournefc.ie/news.php?id=331
-| publisher = Shelbourne Football Club
-| title = Statement regarding Di Stefano's interest in investing in the club
-}}</ref> In October 2007, di Stefano announced through his website his renewed interest in taking control of Norwich City F.C.<ref> {{cite web
-| title = Saddam's lawyer wants to help Canaries
-| url = http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED24%20Oct%202007%2010%3A47%3A18%3A763
-| date = 2007-10-24
-| accessdate = 2007-11-08
-}}</ref>
-===Music producer===
-In [[2007]] he produced and launched an [[album]] by an Italian singer, [[JustCarmen]], called ''Seriously Single'' and which included a track written by Jonathan King, ''Everyone's gone to the Moon'', who gave permission for its use. Stefano's idea was to "put a relatively unknown singer into the studio with a series of big stars from the past." Featured artists included [[The Bachelors]] and [[Al Martino]].<ref>The Independent [[May 14]], [[2007]], p16 Devi's Advocate takes his case to the charts</ref><ref>The Daily Star [[May 15]], [[2007]]</ref><ref>News of the World P.37 [[May 20]], [[2007]]</ref>
-===Founder of political party===
-In April 2004, di Stefano founded a political party,<ref>{{cite web
-| url = http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=954&id=233722005
-| title = Saddam's lawyer eyes Dundee poll
-| publisher = The Scotsman
-| date=  2005-03-03
-}}</ref> the [[Radical Party of Great Britain]], by registering it at the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission ]] with himself as its leader.<ref>{{cite web
-| title = The Electoral Commission Register of political parties
-| url =  http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=477&frmType=partydetail
-}}</ref>
-In a November 2007 interview with [[Dublin]]'s [[Hot Press (magazine)|''Hot Press'']] magazine, Di Stefano is reported as expressing an interest in running in the [[Republic of Ireland]] in the [[European Union]] elections with an anti-[[immigration]] manifesto.<ref>"I'm going to run in Ireland in the European elections. You better believe it. I'm perfectly entitled in the European election to run in any EU state. You don't need to be resident or Irish. I will take my seat in Ireland because a lot of people will follow me. We are not a right wing party. We may be radical in name but not in nature. One of the things we'll have to deal with, as a matter of urgency, is immigration. That is the key thing because otherwise you are going to dilute Irish blood to such an extent that you'll almost wish that Cromwell hadn't got ill!" -- Paid access: http://www.hotpress.com/archive/4270757.html. A free PDF version of the article is hosted at Di Stefano's website:  http://www.studiolegaleinternazionale.com/news/20071128HotPressDiStefano.pdf </ref>
-==References==
-{{reflist|2}}
 ==External links==
 * [http://www.studiolegaleinternazionale.com/ Studio Legale Internazionale - Di Stefano's law firm in Rome]
-* [http://www.theradicalparty.co.uk/constitution.php4 The Radical Party]
-*[http://www.youtube.com/user/devilsadvokat YouTube Videos]
+{{lawyer-stub}}
 {{blpwatch|from=04/2008|reason=controversial subject, frequent content disputes, legal/controversy edits}}