Depardieu used to be no longer provide on the trial because of unwell fitness, in step with his attorney.
The trial of French actor Gerard Depardieu on sexual attack fees has opened in his absence, who has announced himself to be unwell.
His attorney, Jeremie Assous, stated previous that Depardieu, 75, used to be “extremely affected” through unwell fitness and had requested for court cases to be behind schedule till he may just attend in particular person.
“Unfortunately, his doctors have forbidden him from appearing here today,” the attorney stated when arriving on the trial in Paris on Monday.
Assous stated he would ask the court docket for a six-month suspense of the trial, following diverse alternative lawsuits and with a imaginable 2nd court docket case already pending.
Depardieu is the absolute best profile determine to stand accusations in France’s identical of the #MeToo motion, caused first of all in 2017 through allegations in opposition to US manufacturer Harvey Weinstein.
The actor faces fees of abuse that allegedly came about right through a 2021 movie blast. The names of the 2 ladies accusing him have no longer been made society.
Prosecutors accuse Depardieu of groping one of the crucial ladies at the movie i’m ready, pulling her in opposition to him and trapping her along with his legs earlier than touching her waist, hips and breasts presen pronouncing obscene phrases. They are saying that 3 public witnessed the scene.
Depardieu groped the second one lady on i’m ready, and on the street, prosecutors allege.
One of the crucial plaintiffs, a collection wardrobe now elderly 55, reported in February that she had suffered sexual attack, sexual harassment and sexist insults presen filming director Jean Becker’s Les Volet Verts, or The Inexperienced Shutters in English in a personal space in Paris.
The plaintiff instructed French investigative web site Mediapart that Depardieu had began loudly calling for a cooling fan right through the blast as a result of he “couldn’t even get it up” within the warmth.
She claimed the actor went directly to boast that he may just “give women an orgasm without touching them”.
The plaintiff alleged that an month after, she used to be “brutally grabbed” through Depardieu as she used to be strolling off the i’m ready.
The actor pinned her through “closing his legs” round her earlier than groping her waist and her abdomen, proceeding as much as her breasts, she added.
“I expect the justice system to be the same for everybody and for monsieur Depardieu not to receive special treatment just because he’s an artist,” the plaintiff’s attorney, Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, instructed AFP.
Assous stated that Depardieu’s defence would trade in “witnesses and evidence that will show he has simply been targeted by false accusations”. He additionally accused the plaintiff of making an attempt to “make money” through claiming 30,000 euros ($32,500) in repayment.
Thus far, round 20 ladies have accused Depardieu of diverse sexual offences.
Based on the mounting selection of allegations in opposition to him, Depardieu latter yr wrote within the French conservative Le Figaro newspaper, “I have never, ever abused a woman. Hurting a woman would be like kicking my own mother in the stomach.”
If discovered responsible, he may just face a possible five-year prison sentence and a 75,000 euros ($80,947.50) effective.