The trial of Lionel Messi begins

Barcelona starts the trial of Lionel Messi and his father for tax evasion.
The Argentinian is accused of has gotten about 4 million from tax evasion.
After winning the Championship and the Cup of Spain, the five-term winner of the Golden Ball and his father will face in court on charges by June 2013.
The process will continue until June 2, when Messi and his father will testify. Appearance in court will be only days before he was to join his teammates from Argentina for the Copa America.
Messi and his father Jorge Horacio Messi are accused have used a series of companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid taxes of 4.2 million. The sum was obtained from the sale of image rights of Leo for the period from 2007 to 2009.
They both paid a 5 million euro of tax after they were formally indicted in 2013 has three charges against them and the Spanish prosecutors want prison from 22.5 months for Messi and his father, if they are found guilty. In addition, they will have to pay fines in the amount for which they are accused of illegally were arrested.
Any possible verdict, however, is likely to be executed, as is the practice in Spain for the first offence and conviction within 2 years it should not be implemented. According to the Spanish law the defendant is not obliged to attend the whole trial, if prosecutors are seeking a sentence of less than two years, which means that Messi may appear only on 2 June for his statement.