Words she couldn't stand. Adèle Haenel left the courtroom in the middle of Christophe Ruggia's trial, this Tuesday, December 10, 2024. The director, tried since yesterday in Paris for sexual assault on a minor, maintained at the bar that he had tried to protect the actress (today aged 35) during her debut in cinema, at the age of 12, reports theAgence France-Presse.
Adèle Haenel, who has since put her career on hold, had just made a short statement on the stand. Hearing the words of the filmmaker, whom she accuses of having sexually assaulted her between the ages of 12 and 14, the actress suddenly stood up, slapping her hands flat on the table in front of her, before letting out in a cry: “But shut up!” ». She then left the courtroom before returning after about half an hour, sitting down, face closed, at the end of the civil parties' bench, according to theAFP.
“Who cared about the child?” »
Before this coup, Adèle Haenel, wearing a black suit, called the court to witness: “ Who was there around this child to tell him: “It’s not your fault. It's manipulation. Is this violence? ».
And added, with a trembling voice: “Everyone asks me to cry over the fate of Mr. Ruggia. But who cared about the child? Attacking children like that doesn't happen. It has consequences. No one helped this child. »
Read also: Adèle Haenel confided in the director's sister in 2010
Christophe Ruggia tries to explain himself
The court then called Christophe Ruggia, asking him to react. “I was aware from the start of the complexity of this film…”began the director, about his feature film The Devilsin which Adèle Haenel played the lead role when she was 12, in 2001.
“We agree that Adèle Haenel does not blame you for the conditions of the filming but for the aftermath”the president interrupted.
The 59-year-old director, paunchy belly under a gray jacket, small beard, assured that he had tried to help him, particularly in his life “at college” where she could be mocked. “I told him to take a pseudonym”he said, before being interrupted by the cry of Adèle Haenel.
Christophe Ruggia's trial is due to end this Tuesday evening. The filmmaker faces up to ten years in prison and a €150,000 fine.
