Convicted paparazzi agent pleads poor mental health

(ANSA) - Milan, January 22 - Fabrizio Corona, Italy's most famous paparazzi agent, on Thursday made a passionate plea with judges to be allowed to serve the rest of a nearly 9-year sentence for two separate convictions at home on grounds of his poor mental state.
    "I'm not well, I have serious psychological problems and I ask you to give me a chance," Corona was quoted by one of his lawyers as saying. The prosecutor stated his opposition to the request and the judges are expected to make a ruling within 10 days. Earlier Corona's lawyers said their client was suffering from anxiety, depression and panic attacks in the Milan jail where he has been imprisoned for over two years. He still has six years eight months to run following convictions in 2013 relating to the fraudulent bankruptcy of his once high-flying photography agency Corona's and the blackmail of VIPs with compromising photographs.