French prosecutors call for film star Depardieu to face trial in new rape probe

NEWS WIRES

22 August 2024 at 10:10 am·1-min read

Paris prosecutors have requested a criminal trial for French actor Gerard Depardieu over allegations he raped and sexually assaulted fellow actress Charlotte Arnould at his Paris home in August 2018. Depardieu is already set to face another trial in October for alleged sexual assaults against two different women during a film shoot in 2021.

French film legend Gerard Depardieu should face a criminal trial over allegations he raped and sexually assaulted a fellow actor, Paris prosecutors said Thursday.

The investigators' formal call for a trial comes after the 75-year-old was charged in December 2020 with allegedly raping Charlotte Arnould at his Paris home on two occasions in August 2018.

Prosecutors have since conducted an investigation to determine whether a trial was warranted.

It will now be up to an investigating magistrate to decide whether the hearing goes ahead.

A lawyer representing Depardieu did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment, while Arnould's lawyer Carine Durrieu-Diebolt said the move was "the result of a long investigation which was able to gather evidence corroborating the words of my client".

It was "a huge step forward filled with hope" for Arnould, Durrieu-Diebolt added.

Depardieu has denied a string of rape and sexual assault allegations in recent years that have drawn comment from figures including President Emmanuel Macron.

(AFP)

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