Thursday March 10, 2022, the Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the indictment of Gérard Depardieu for “sexual assault” and “rape”. This following the complaint of the actress Charlotte Arnould.
Gérard Depardieu in turmoil
Bad news for Gérard Depardieu! After a complaint against him… Thursday March 10, 2022, the Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the indictment of the actor for “rape” and “sexual assault”.
“The investigating chamber thus considers that there are, at this stage, serious or concordant indications which justify that Gérard Depardieu remains indicted, for facts dating from August 2018”. Declares Rémy Heitz, the Attorney General of Paris in a press release, which Le Figaro echoes.
In fact, in this context, Gérard Depardieu’s file therefore returns to the hands of the examining magistrate “for further investigation”.
The charges against Gérard Depardieu date back to 2018
The artist’s lawyer did not wish to react to the decision of the Court of Appeal. Moved, the plaintiff, Charlotte Arnould, present at the hearing did not want to comment either.
As a reminder, in August 2018, the actress went to the gendarmerie of Lambesc in the Bouches-du-Rhône to file a complaint against Gérard Depardieu.
The young woman told investigators that she had been raped by the famous 73-year-old comedian a few days earlier. For his part, the main interested party would be a friend of the complainant’s family.
Gérard Depardieu’s file closed without further action
Indeed, for many months, Charlotte Arnould wanted to keep her identity hidden. It was in December 2020 that she therefore decided to break the silence denouncing the behavior of Gérard Depardieu.
“He works while I spend my time surviving”. Had actually written on his Twitter account. Left free, without judicial review, after his indictment… The court had closed the file without further action in June 2019, for lack of sufficient evidence to prosecute Gérard Depardieu.
In August 2020, the victim then filed a complaint with civil action. She thus obtained the resumption of the investigation.
“I have nothing to fear,” says Charlotte Arnould
“I do not wish to comment,” declared Charlotte Arnould to Agence France-Presse (AFP), present at the Court of Appeal at the time of deliberation. Obviously moved and accompanied by a loved one. “Today, my client is particularly relieved and confident with regard to justice”. Reacts thus Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, his lawyer.
“It is important to note that currently all the magistrates in charge of the file”, whether it is the investigating judge or the court of appeal, “believe that there are serious or concordant indications which suggest that Gérard Depardieu did indeed commit the acts of sexual assault and rape of which he is accused”. Also add the lawyer. The actor’s lawyer, Hervé Temime, declined to comment. The monument of French cinema remains presumed innocent until the final outcome of the case.