BBC News Online: Sport

Verdict due in Senna death trial

An old people's centre, more accustomed to big bands and bingo, is the unlikely setting for a verdict which could jeopardise the future of Grand Prix racing in a country steeped in Ferrari tradition.

The multicoloured lights, the heavy damask red curtain on the stage behind the judge's dias and the highly decorative ceiling lend an almost surreal air to a temporary courtroom which has grappled to understand the workings of Formula One technology, among the most sophisticated in the world.

Interpreting the jargon and the questions from English to Italian and vice versa has only added to difficulties. There is no doubt that the judge, Antonio Costanzo, would have chosen a far less high profile case, so riddled with uncertainties, for his debut.

He has had almost three weeks to consider the arguments put forward by the prosecutor and the defence lawyers in the final session last month. Then again he has sat through proceedings which, for one reason or another (including postponements because of a lawyers' strike and a summer ceramics conference in nearby Bologna which booked up every available hotel room for miles around) opened amid almost uncontrollable media interest on 20th February. The judge had to adjourn the first morning while the Caribineri cleared the courtroom of cameras and photographers.

The Prosecutor, Maurizio Passarini, has consistently alleged that Ayrton Senna_s death in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix was caused by steering column failure. Passarini claims that modifications to Senna's steering column were badly done and caused it to snap as Senna approached the notorious Tamburello Curve at around 180 mph. As a result, Senna's car crashed into the wall.

Frank Williams, Patrick Head, Williams technical director and the team's chief designer at the time, Adrian Newey, have denied the manslaughter charges. Frank Williams, the only team official to give evidence in court, had admitted doubts about the steering column but said that after examining computer data in the immediate aftermath he and the team "formed the opinion that the steering column did not break."

He did not put forward his own theory as to the cause of the crash, though he did say "it might have been the car setup being too low or that the tyres had lost pressure after the laps behind the safety car" (because of an accident early in the fateful race).

World Champion, Damon Hill, and the Williams test driver of the time, David Coulthard, also gave evidence. Hill made clear he did not think steering column failure was to blame in a testimony which was largely memorable for the number of times Hill said he could not remember information or events, even with the help of video footage from Senna's in-car camera. Passarini claimed the steering wheel was seen moving as Senna struggled to keep control. Coulthard disputed this, saying flexibility was normal in the column.

The most notable dissenting voice has been the former Ferari driver, Michele Alboreto, who's maintained Senna's death was caused by mechanical failure. "You don't come off that curve unless you have a mechanical failure", he said in an early testimony, "I don't want to see anyone in jail but I'm here to defend his memory."

The Senna family, however, has always protested its opposition to the trial. The family lawyer has attended infrequently as an observer None of the defendants, including the three track officials from the Imola circuit, are expected in court on Tuesday. As a final twist in the summing up, the Prosecutor recommended charges be dropped against all defendants except Patrick Head and Adrian Newey, who both declined to give evidence.

The judge has it in his power to jail those he finds guilty of manslaughter but a more likely outcome is a one year suspended sentence. No criminal convictions have arisen from previous court inquiries of this kind. And there are sure to be political pressures behind the scenes to preserve motor racing in Italy which has staged a Grand Prix every year since 1950. Max Mosley, President of the FIA, motorsport's governing body, dropped a threatening hint in February that convictions would put such a record at risk.

It remains to be seen whether Formula One's rulers can direct the course of law as effectively as they have the British government over tobacco sponsorship.

Summaries

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