PARIS — A legal court docket in Paris on Monday postponed French actor Gérard Depardieu’s trial on prices of sexually assaulting two ladies on a movie set due to issues about his well being, shifting the beginning of the proceedings to March.
Depardieu, who has denied any wrongdoing, is accused of utilizing “violence, coercion, shock or risk” within the alleged sexual assaults that prosecutors say came about in 2021 on the set of “Les Volets verts” (”The Inexperienced Shutters.”)
The court docket additionally ordered an professional to evaluate the 75-year-old actor’s well being points. Depardieu’s lawyer Jérémie Assous requested the postponement, saying that the actor has coronary heart hassle and diabetes-related points.
Assous stated that medical doctors determined the actor was not properly sufficient to attend the proceedings despite the fact that he was keen to seem in court docket.
“He’s anxious to defend himself, as a result of for over three years, an enormous variety of inaccuracies, false info and lies have been systematically disseminated and relayed,” Assous advised The Related Press. “Now, lastly, we’re going to have the ability to have the phrase of the protection.”
Legal professionals for each ladies additionally argued in favor of the postponement, saying that their purchasers wish to hear Depardieu’s explanations.
Prosecutors say that in each circumstances, ladies reported that the actor trapped them between his legs and groped their buttocks, genitals, chest and breasts over their garments.
Outdoors the courtroom, one of many plaintiffs, a 53-year-old manufacturing designer, stated “it was extraordinarily troublesome to hearken to all this violence,” after listening to Depardieu’s lawyer defending his shopper. “He questioned all the pieces … There have been a whole lot of lies, about nearly all the pieces really.”
The Related Press doesn’t typically establish victims of sexual assault with out their consent.
France continues to reckon with sexual violence within the wake of the #MeToo motion that originally struggled to seek out traction, particularly within the cinema business.
Depardieu “is a coward,” French actor Anouk Grinberg advised the AP exterior the courtroom. Grinberg, who performed in ”The Inexperienced Shutters,” stated she confirmed as much as court docket “as a result of I can’t take it anymore… And the impunity, it’s acquired to cease, society can’t enable it”.
About 100 individuals gathered exterior the court docket on Monday, some holding indicators, responding to a name from a number of feminist teams to point out assist for victims of sexual violence. Some activists made their method into the courtroom and sat amongst different members of most people attending the hearings.
Blanche Sabbah, a ladies’s rights activist, stated “we’re right here despite the fact that Gérard Depardieu won’t present up.” The plaintiffs “have proven up. They’re right here and I’m right here to assist them. That’s why all of those feminists are right here.”
In accordance with Paris prosecutors, the manufacturing designer advised investigators that Depardieu had earlier made sexual remarks after which in the future, as she walked previous him, he “grabbed her, pulled her towards him, blocked her along with his legs, and groped her waist, hips and chest, accompanying his gestures with obscene remarks.”
Prosecutors stated three individuals witnessed it, and that the girl made an try to interrupt away from Depardieu’s grip and appeared “shocked.” A psychiatrist examined her and granted her a seven-day depart, they stated.
After the incident, it was organized for Depardieu to apologize. However in a TV interview that aired Saturday, the girl stated the actor was livid and blamed her for inflicting hassle. Prosecutors stated witnesses confirmed that what Depardieu had stated didn’t represent an apology.
Within the interview with French on-line information website Mediapart, the manufacturing designer — who spoke on digicam however solely gave her first title — stated the incident had taken a toll on her private {and professional} life for a minimum of 18 months. She stated she couldn’t sleep properly, suffered anxiousness assaults and misplaced weight.
The month earlier than the incident, one other lady engaged on the movie set had complained about Depardieu, prosecutors stated.
A director’s assistant advised investigators that Depardieu had touched her buttocks on a number of events. She stated she had expressed her disapproval and in return Depardieu had been insulting towards her. She was additionally given a six-day depart by a psychiatrist.
Many have come out in assist of Depardieu, together with French President Emmanuel Macron, who later expressed “remorse” about not having spoken concerning the significance for victims to talk out.
Late final yr, 56 French performers, writers and producers printed an essay defending the movie star, saying that when “Gérard Depardieu is focused this manner, it’s the artwork (of cinema) that’s being attacked.”
Their name got here simply weeks after nationwide broadcaster France 2 put out a documentary outlining accusations of sexual misconduct by 16 ladies towards Depardieu, and confirmed the actor making obscene remarks and gestures throughout a 2018 journey to North Korea.
Within the footage, Depardieu could be seen making groaning sounds and sexual feedback in entrance of girls, together with a woman about 10 years outdated who’s driving a horse. He can be seen posing for a photograph, saying he was “touching the underside” of a North Korean interpreter by his facet.
Depardieu was charged in 2020 with rape and sexual assault following allegations from actor Charlotte Arnould.
In an open letter, Depardieu stated final yr, “I’ve by no means, ever abused a girl.”
The actor was lengthy seen as a nationwide icon in France. He has been a worldwide ambassador for French movie and loved worldwide fame with a number of roles in Hollywood.
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AP Journalists Nicolas Garriga and Marine Lesprit contributed to the story.
