French star Gerard Depardieu has appeared in court and denied all sex assault charges made against him as his team is criticised a ‘flawed manhunt’
French film star Gerard Depardieu has appeared at the Paris Correctional Court today (Monday). The 76-year-old star denied sex assault charges made against him. If convicted, the actor could face a prison sentence of up to five years.
As he appeared at the opening of the high-profile criminal trial, a tired-looking Depardieu, who was wearing a black suit with Nike trainers, shared a statement. He said: “I would like to make a statement beforehand, and then answer the court’s questions.” His lawyer labelled the charges part of a ‘flawed manhunt’ against the star of Green Card and Cyrano de Bergerac.
Two females who had accused Depardieu were sat nearby. Both accuse the star of repeatedly assaulting them during the filming of The Green Shutters (Les Volets Verts) in 2021; claims the actor denies.
Jeremie Assous, for Depardieu, said the duo’s claims should be rejected because of a failed investigation and called the honesty of the pair into question. Assous said: “The mission had to be fulfilled – to bring down the sacred monster, Gérard Depardieu.”
He went on to say witnesses were all part of a ‘flawed manhunt’ and that the trial should be cancelled. “In this trial, we have proof that the most basic principles were trampled on both by the judicial police officer in charge of this case, and by the public prosecutor,” he said.
“Today, a complaint for sexual violence atomises you, it kills you socially.” However, the lawyers for the complainants said Assous was using stalling tactics and claimed the trial should go ahead.
Depardieu was taken into police custody on April 29, 2024 and was summoned to appear before the criminal court in October. However, this was postponed due to the actor’s health. Assous said Depardieu had undergone a quadruple heart bypass and suffers from diabetes.
A court-appointed medical expert has now determined he is fit to stand trial. He was summoned for questioning in April after being accused of molesting two female members of staff on two separate film sets in 2014 and also in 2021.
This is the first time Depardieu, one of France’s most famous film actors, has been tried over sexual assault allegations. He has previously been accused publicly or via formal complaints of misconduct by over 20 women, but no other case has gone to court. Some were dropped due to lack of evidence.
As part of a separate case, the actor has been, since December, 16, 2020, indicted over allegations of rape and sexual assault filed in 2018. In August 2024 prosecutors requested it go to trial, but a magistrate has yet to make the decision. Depardieu was also accused by 13 women of sexually inappropriate behaviour in a report published by French investigative news website Médiapart in April 2023.
In October 2023 he vehemently denied any wrongdoing in an open letter published in Le Figaro. He said: “To the media court, to the lynching that has been reserved for me, I have only my word to defend myself.
“Never, but never, have I abused a woman. To think that I have hurt someone or made them feel uncomfortable is intolerable to me.”
The current hearing is expected to last two days with scheduled breaks.
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