The investigation opened following a complaint for sexual harassment filed by actor Francis Renaud against filmmaker André Téchiné was dismissed due to statute of limitations, AFP learned Thursday from a source close to the matter.
“After examination (…), criminal proceedings will not be initiated on the grounds that the facts revealed or denounced in the procedure do indeed constitute an offense but the time limit set by law for being able to judge them has passed,” wrote the 4 June the Paris Prosecutor’s Office to the complainant, according to this source. André Téchiné’s lawyer, Me Julia Minkowski, did not wish to comment.
On the eve of the César ceremony marked by new accusations of sexual violence, launched in particular by the actress Judith Godrèche, the actor Francis Renaud, 56, had accused André Téchiné on March 1 in a video published on the hashtag “MeTooGarçons”.
Two days later, the public prosecutor of Evreux, Rémi Coutin, indicated that Francis Renaud had “filed a complaint against André Téchiné for sexual harassment, against (casting director Gérard) Molevrier for sexual assault and against of death”. He had asked for the “greatest caution” regarding the details of the accusations concerning André Téchiné which, according to him, did not appear “likely to be qualified as sexual harassment”.
Concerning the complaint for sexual assault against Gérard Moulevrier, the actor spoke, according to Rémi Coutin, of “caresses in particular on his penis through clothes” “twenty or twenty-five years ago”. “At first glance”, these facts were “all prescribed”, added the prosecutor. According to a source close to the case, André Téchiné was not heard during the investigation.
“I was surprised by the relative speed with which the Paris Prosecutor’s Office”, which took over the procedure, “closed the investigation”, indicated Thursday to AFP Me Mathieu Croizet, lawyer for the actor who known as “blacklisted by the cinema”. “I can understand that there could be a statute of limitations, but that we apply the obligation to investigate just in case”, issued in a criminal circular at the beginning of 2021 in order to discover other potential victims.
“This decision, although it is obvious, is welcomed with great relief,” said Me Céline Bekerman, lawyer for Gérard Moulevrier. Director of around thirty eclectic films, André Téchiné, aged 80, was described in 2017 as a “giant of French cinema” by the Cannes Festival.
Victim or witness to sexual assault?
-
Ciao.ch (11-20 years old, response within 2 days)
-
We listen to you (18-25 years old, response within two days)
-
Pro Juventute: 147 (24/7)
-
Patouche: 0800 800 140
