French actor Gerard Depardieu in court docket as sexual assault trial begins | EUROtoday

French actor Gerard Depardieu has gone on trial accused of sexually assaulting two girls on a movie set, as he finds himself on the centre of a case that’s seen as a possible watershed for the #MeToo motion in France.

Depardieu is accused of groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director throughout filming in 2021 of Green shutters [The Green Shutters] and faces as much as 5 years in jail together with a €75,000 (£62,000) advantageous if convicted.

The 76-year-old, one of many nation’s most distinguished movie actors, has been accused of misconduct publicly or in formal complaints by greater than 20 girls, however thus far solely the sexual assault case has proceeded to court docket. Depardieu has denied all the allegations made in opposition to him.

In an open letter printed in Le Figaro in October 2023, Depardieu wrote: “Never, but never, have I abused a woman.”

“He has obviously denied it from the beginning,” Depardieu’s lawyer, Jeremie Assous, informed French radio RMC on Monday morning. “Like any person facing trial, he has the right to speak. He will finally speak.”

Depardieu – who informed the judges he was ready to reply the court docket’s questions – stated on the primary day of his trial in Paris on Monday: “The truth will be obvious and the truth is on our side.”

Mr Assous informed journalists massed exterior the courtroom: “We will be able to show in an impartial, objective and incontestable manner that all of the accusations are lies.”

Prosecutors allege that Depardieu trapped the set dresser together with his legs earlier than groping her waist and breasts in entrance of witnesses. She says the actor additionally used obscene language and needed to be pulled away by bodyguards.

The assistant director says Depardieu groped her each on set and on the street. The girls, who haven’t waived their anonymity and so usually are not being recognized, sat facet by facet in court docket.

The case has positioned certainly one of France’s best-known movie stars on the coronary heart of the nation’s reckoning over allegations of sexual violence, which comes within the wake of the mass rape case involving Gisele Pelicot on the finish of final 12 months.

Depardieu’s trial is seen as vital for the #MeToo motion in France. While Hollywood noticed highly effective males fall swiftly and publicly, the French movie trade was slower to reply.

The sexual assault trial was initially scheduled for October, however was then postponed due to Depardieu’s well being. The actor has undergone a quadruple coronary heart bypass and has diabetes, based on his lawyer. A court-appointed medical professional decided that he’s match to face trial, however really useful that the hearings don’t exceed six hours every, with a 15-minute pause and a snack each three hours.

Depardieu grasped his lawyer’s shoulder as he strode calmly into the courtroom. The trial is predicted to final at the very least two days, however may very well be prolonged past Tuesday if the chief decide needs extra time, with a verdict then anticipated at a later date.

The first hours of Monday’s listening to had been largely taken up by Depardieu’s lawyer. The plaintiffs’ legal professionals had been anticipated to put out their proof later.

Carine Durrieu Diebolt, the lawyer for one of many two plaintiffs, stated on France Info radio that her consumer “is calmly awaiting the outcome of the case … because the case is solid”.

Ms Durrieu Diebolt stated that 4 further girls who say they’ve been sexually assaulted by Depardieu will communicate on the trial.

Campaigners for girls’s rights demonstrated exterior the courthouse. A dozen of them carried out a choreographed dance to techno music.

Actors Charlotte Arnould, who has accused Depardieu of raping her in 2018 when she was 22, and Anouk Grinberg, who acted alongside Depardieu in Green shutters and has publicly criticised him, had been amongst these current within the courtroom to comply with proceedings.

Last 12 months, the Paris prosecutor’s workplace stated Depardieu ought to face trial over Arnould’s criticism. Depardieu has denied any wrongdoing. It is now as much as an investigative decide to say if there can be a trial over these allegations.

Rape Crisis gives assist for these affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can name them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or go to their web site at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you might be within the US, you may name Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673)