A judge suspended a murder trial in an Italian court, after she realised that two members of staff were having sex in an attached office.

It is believed that the two staff members in the Palazzo di Giustizia court in Genoa thought they were concealed by a pane of frosted glass, but Judge Anna Ivaldi was still able to see them.

Judge Ivaldi then interrupted prosecutor Sabrina Monteverde while she was summing up the case, so she could address the situation, Mail Online reported.

An investigation has now been launched into the incident, that happened during the trial of Yassin Mahmod, who is accused of murdering a homeless man in the Italian city last year.

A court source told the website: "The summing up had just begun when the judge heard strange noises, looked up and saw the outline of two naked bodies.

"When everyone looked it was quite clear what was going on - they were having sex.

"They obviously thought because the glass was dark they would not be seen.

"The judge suspended the case and had the two people clawed away.

"They are both court admin staff but they have not been named. It's a bit delicate as one of them is married," the source claimed.

A spokesman for the court in Genoa said: "Proceedings in a murder case were temporarily halted after the judge noted a disturbance.

"The matter was dealt with and an investigation has been launched so as a result it would not be appropriate to comment further."

Independent News Service