Actress Judith Godrèche announced Tuesday, November 19, that she had received a “prior notice of indictment” following a complaint filed by filmmaker Jacques Doillon, whom she accuses of sexual assault. “I have not counted the number of complaints for rape and sexual assault filed against Jacques Doillon. I know mine is prescribed. But his defamation complaint is not”she wrote on the social network Instagram. “The indictment, in this case, is automatic. But still…”she continued.
The 52-year-old actress publicly accused filmmaker Benoît Jacquot of rape at the beginning of February, then Jacques Doillon of sexual assault, triggering a new storm in the #MeToo of French cinema. Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon were interviewed at the beginning of July by the Minor Protection Brigade (BPM). An investigation was launched by the Paris public prosecutor’s office for rape of a minor under 15 years old by a person in authority, rape, violence by a partner, and sexual assault on a minor over 15 years old by a person in authority, after a complaint filed by Judith Godrèche .
Regarding Jacques Doillon, the actress accuses the filmmaker of him “having put your fingers in your pants” during tests for a film released in 1989. She was then 15 years old and was in a relationship with Benoît Jacquot. Jacques Doillon’s lawyer, Me Marie Dosé, denounced in July the attack on her client’s presumption of innocence and the framework of his hearing. Jacques Doillon “should have been heard in the context of a free hearing in view of the age of the facts, their prescription acquired for more than two decades, and the inevitable dismissal of any further action which will close this investigation”emphasized Me Dosé.
