Prosecution Proposes Sentence for Gérard Depardieu Following Sexual Assault Allegations
The office of the Paris prosecutor has proposed that actor Gérard Depardieu receive an 18-month suspended sentence, be placed on probation for three years, and pay a fine of €20,000 (approximately $21,500). These recommendations come in the wake of his trial for sexual assault accusations stemming from incidents during a 2021 film production.
In addition to these penalties, the prosecution has suggested that Depardieu undergo psychological counseling and be registered on France’s national sex offenders list.
The trial, which lasted four days in Paris, was the first time Depardieu faced the court amidst more than 20 public claims of sexually inappropriate behavior against him.
Details of the Allegations
The charges against Depardieu relate to his conduct towards a set dresser and a third assistant director during the filming of Jean Becker’s film The Green Shutters in 2021. Furthermore, Depardieu might appear in court again soon regarding separate rape allegations made by actress Charlotte Arnould in 2018, as the Paris Prosecutor’s Office has recently forwarded a request for a trial, which is currently navigating the judicial system. Depardieu has denied all accusations.
Detailed testimonies were given in court this week. The set dresser, known as Amélie, claimed that Depardieu forcefully grabbed her and made sexually explicit comments. The third assistant director, identified only as Sarah, recounted how Depardieu inappropriately touched her on two separate occasions while on set.
Depardieu defended himself by denying these claims, stating that at his age he is not inclined towards such behavior and that any physical contact was misinterpreted and not sexually motivated.
Supporting evidence was also provided by several women, not involved in the litigation, including an actress who alleged that Depardieu had been sexually forward with her during a Netflix show’s photocall. Actress Fanny Ardant also testified, recognizing Depardieu’s imperfections but also highlighting his exceptional talent.
Prosecution and Defense Arguments
In his closing argument, prosecutor Laurent Guy emphasized the consistency of the plaintiffs’ accounts and pointed out that Depardieu had altered his narrative during the proceedings. He also mentioned the presence of three witnesses who corroborated the testimony regarding the assault on Amélie, confirming it as sexual assault.
Under French law, these recommendations will now be considered by a judge. Initially, Depardieu was at risk of facing up to five years in jail and a €75,000 ($81,000) fine.
This case adds to a string of recent high-profile sexual abuse trials in France, including the mass rape case involving Gisèle Pelicot, the successful prosecution of director Christophe Ruggia for assaulting actress Adèle Haenel when she was a minor, and the trial of former surgeon Joël Le Scouamec, accused of molesting nearly 300 children.
Carine Durrieu-Deibolt, lawyer for Amélie, referenced these cases in her final statement, highlighting a pervasive culture of silence in the industry. She argued that many knew of Depardieu’s reputed behaviors but remained silent, possibly due to fear of job loss and industry ostracism. Durrieu-Deibolt criticized the film industry’s collective failure to protect women from Depardieu, noting that no one informed Amélie of the ongoing allegations against him, nor did they take steps to shield her from potential harm.
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