The trial of Stéphane Plaza, famous host and real estate agent, opened Thursday in Paris. Accused of domestic violence by two former partners, he firmly contests the facts. A complaint he had filed for cyberharassment was dismissed.
Stéphane Plaza, 54, appears before the criminal court for alleged acts of “habitual physical and/or psychological violence by partner” between 2018 and 2022 against a former partner, Amandine, and for “habitual psychological violence ” on another, Paola, between 2021 and 2022. Despite the nullities raised by the defense, the court decided to address the merits of the case.
Dressed in a dark blue suit, Stéphane Plaza faced the accusations. Amandine claims to have suffered several episodes of violence, including an incident in spring 2022 where the host allegedly twisted her fingers, causing two dislocations and a bone tear. Messages sent by Mr. Plaza, read at the hearing, show a tone that is alternately desolate and defensive: “You push me to the limit, and I lose my temper, that’s the reality”.
Paola, for her part, describes unpredictable behavior, alternating between sweet words and insults. She reports having been called an “old whore” or a “bimbo”, particularly after a breast augmentation operation carried out to please the host. She also claims to have been bitten on a thigh and a shoulder.
The civil parties evoke deep suffering
The two women, present at the trial, obtained recognition of total incapacity for work for more than eight days. Their lawyers recalled the ordeal represented by this trial, initially scheduled for August but postponed to January due to the fragile psychological state of Stéphane Plaza.
Defense lawyer Carlo Alberto Brusa denounced a biased investigation and described the case as a “judicial tsunami”, saying the accusations were based on isolated facts. “Talking about four or five incidents in several years… It’s not dignified,” he declared, while criticizing the concept of “habitual” violence.
A complaint for cyberharassment dismissed
During the hearing, Me Brusa also announced the dismissal, for “unknown author”, of a complaint filed by Stéphane Plaza in June 2023 for harassment and cyberharassment against the complainants. The host had, after the Mediapart revelations in September 2023, accused them of wanting to discredit him.
Despite the filing, a new complaint with the constitution of a civil party was filed to obtain the intervention of an investigating judge. The defense thus hopes to reopen the case on these accusations of cyberharassment.
Stéphane Plaza, known for his successful shows on M6 such as “Research apartment or house” and “House for sale”, faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros if he is found guilty. Despite the accusations, the M6 channel has for the moment ruled out any break in collaboration with its star host. The trial must continue with the interrogation of Stéphane Plaza, scheduled for the afternoon, before the court rules on the requests for nullity raised by the defense.
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