Former supermodel Carla Bruni arrived in a French criminal court today after prosecutors called for her husband Nicolas Sarkozy to be jailed for four years.
The 52-year-old made her appearance at the Paris corruption trial which could see Sarkozy, 65, become the first former President in the history of France ending up in a cell.
Dressed completely in black, including a mid-length dress and boots, Ms Bruni covered her face in a mask and looked tired and anxious.
On Tuesday night, prosecutors called for Sarkozy to spend two years incarcerated, with another two years in prison suspended.
Former supermodel Carla Bruni (centre) exit the courtroom at the Paris courthouse in France today after prosecutors called for her husband Nicolas Sarkozy (holding her hand, second left) to be jailed for four years
Bruni, dressed in a black dress with black boots and a maroon face mask, leaves the courtroom ahead of her husband as he holds her hand
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy (right) waves to photographers after he and his wife Carla Bruni (left) exit the courtroom today
Bruni strides out of the courtroom following the hearing of her husband Nicholas Sarkozy (second left) who follows behind her today
It followed a two-week trial in which Sarkozy risked up to 10 years in prison and a fine approaching £1million if found guilty of corruption and influence peddling.
The verdict in the case is expected to be announced shortly after the case closes on Thursday.
Sarkozy – who denied all charges – was specifically accused of trying to bribe a judge using a so-called ‘burner’ mobile phone and a false name.
Prosecutors also called for the same punishment for Sarkozy’s lawyer, Thierry Herzog, 65, and Gilbert Azibert, the 73-year-old retired judge who was said to have been bribed.
Last month, Ms Bruni, the former first lady of France, spoke about the corruption charges aimed at her husband for the first time – describing them as ‘a scandal’ and ‘disgusting lies’.
Bruni and Sarkozy hold hands as they leave the courtroom in Paris, France, today after a hearing in the former president’s corruption trial
Sarkozy reaches out to hold Bruni’s wrist as they leave the Paris courtroom today. Former model Bruni insists ‘the truth will eventually, finally come out’
Now a pop singer following a long career on the runway, she vented her fury, telling Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 that he was absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing.
Asked if Sarkozy was ‘broken’ by the ordeal, Ms Bruni replied: ‘No, not at all, he’s not broken about this court case, because this court case is so incredibly absurd.’
Claiming that the prosecution had ‘no clue of any type, with no reason, with no proof,’ the former first lady said: ‘So you know, the truth will eventually, finally come out.’
She continued: ‘You know truth comes out, you know there’s no way to stop truth and that’s what is going to happen, you know.’
Ms Bruni, who become Sarkozy’s third wife in 2008, shortly after he became president, said: ‘I mean, I trust him, and I trust truth, you know, so this is all going to stop, and people are going to realise that something was done in such an unreal way.
French prosecutors called for a four-year prison sentence for former President Nicolas Sarkozy following a corruption trial yesterday. Pictured: Sarkozy waves as he leaves court yesterday
Prosecutors also called for the same punishment for Sarkozy’s lawyer, Thierry Herzog, 65, (pictured)
They also called for Gilbert Azibert (centre), the 73-year-old retired judge who was said to have been bribed, to receive the same punishment
‘People are going to realise what has been done in France, but that is not for me to say.’
Pushed further on the subject by Mr Vine, Ms Bruni said: ‘This will come out, the way it has come out but it’s not only a scandal what is happening, not only it’s full of lies, not only it’s disgusting, but – you know – truth will come out.’
The Paris home Sarkozy shares with Ms Bruni was raided by fraud squad officers within two days of him losing his presidential immunity from prosecution in 2008.
He has since been indicted on numerous allegations, including that he accepted millions in illegal funding from the late Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi.
Sarkozy denies all charges, and his criminal trials will last until the end of this year, and well into next.
Ms Bruni was on Radio 2 promoting a new album of songs, including one called ‘Sad Boy’, which she said was about Sarkozy.
She said: ‘Well yes, I am talking about that boy, because you know…my songs are always coming from my life, and obviously they get inspired, from my life, and so yeah, it’s about that boy, it’s about my man.
‘You know the funny part is that he has so much energy, you know my husband gives out such an energy, he has such strength, and always doing things, blah, blah, blah..
‘I always think that, I always wonder, that the people that appear like that, always into energy, always into strength, maybe they have inside themselves, like a child, like sort of a sad child.
‘Or simply a shy person that never comes out, and you know that no-one ever sees, that’s what the song is about, about the contrast, in between someone’s image, and something I feel, you know.’