A look back at all the key moments in the case of the two French rugby players Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jégou, charged with aggravated rape in Argentina.
On Tuesday, the Argentine justice system authorized two French rugby players, Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jégou, charged with aggravated rape in Argentina, to return to France, pending the upcoming examination of a request for dismissal of the case.
A look back at the key moments of two months of a murky affair, destined to leave its mark, whatever the legal outcome. Both on the side of the alleged victim – who attempted suicide – and on the side of French rugby shaken by the affairs.
July 8: The arrest
Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou are arrested in Buenos Aires, two days after their match with the French XV against Argentina (28-13) in Mendoza (west). A complaint was filed by a 39-year-old Argentinian for alleged sexual assault, on the night of the 6th to the 7th in their hotel room in Mendoza.
July 10: Contrary versions
From the very first statements, radically opposing versions of the facts emerge. The plaintiff’s lawyer mentions a «violence terrible»your client “savagely beaten”. The players claim a consensual relationship and deny any violence. Both parties cite “proofs”.
Also readAuradou-Jégou case: “Winning the fight for their media rehabilitation,” says one of the two players’ lawyers
July 11: Questioning the tours
The president of the French Rugby Federation, Florian Grill, has promised from Argentina to “questioning the way things work” tours, invoking a “principle of responsible autonomy” players who “obviously didn’t work”in one evening “rather alcoholic”. There will be “a before and an after” this tour, he would say later.
July 12: Indictment and detention
The two players were transferred to Mendoza, where they were charged with aggravated rape because it was committed in a group, and placed in preventive detention. They face up to twenty years in prison.
July 15: the return to France of the Blues
The French XV after a 2nd lost match (25-33) leaves Argentina, epilogue of a nightmare tour. In addition to Jegou and Auradou indicted, the day before their arrest, the full-back Melvyn Jaminet was removed from the group after racist remarks in a video that he said he “ashamed”. Captain Baptiste Serin will discuss a “terrible week”the Antoine Frisch center “a collective trauma”.
July 16: Auditions begin
The investigation collects testimonies in the nightclub where Auradou met the complainant, from their taxi, at the hotel, from the complainant’s family, from the French management, from players in adjacent rooms. Videos and WhatsApp exchanges are analyzed.
Also readAuradou-Jégou affair: the two French players expected in Paris this Wednesday afternoon
July 17: Relaxed regime
The prosecution, taking into account “the level of evidence and the absence of procedural risk”including escape, authorises the house arrest in Mendoza of the players, who must wear an electronic bracelet.
August 6-8: Auditions and Leaks
The complainant was interviewed at the beginning of July and was interviewed again on the 6th for “clarifications”, according to his lawyer. The day after next, the players were heard at length for the first time.
At the same time, elements of the case, such as audio messages exchanged with a friend after the events in which the complainant “speak well” players. “Partial extracts”, “she wasn’t herself” retort her lawyers. Or even photos of bruises and scratches on the complainant’s body. Already dismissed by the expert as “incompatible” with the alleged blows, the players’ lawyers will reply.
Also readAuradou-Jégou case: “Winning the fight for their media rehabilitation,” says one of the two players’ lawyers
August 12: Release
The prosecution ordered the players’ release, although they were banned from leaving Argentina during the investigation. In its order, it points out “the existence of notorious contradictions, inconsistencies, gray areas and even insufficient explanations” in the complainant’s version.
August 26: Suicide attempt
The plaintiff’s lawyers reveal that she attempted suicide three days earlier, but that the presence of her father “avoided the worst”Hospitalized and assisted by psychiatrists, she did not appear at the following three hearings.
August 28: dismissal requested
The players’ lawyers, convinced that the prosecution’s position has weakened during the investigation, are filing a request for a dismissal of the case. No date has yet been set for the examination of this request, on which the prosecution must first rule.
Tomas Cuesta / REUTERS
September 3: return to France
The courts have authorized Jegou and Auradou to leave Argentina. Stade Rochelais, Jegou’s club, said “relieved and impatient to find Oscar again”. The Paloise Section (Auradou club) believes that“Before thinking about what comes next, it is important to let Hugo find his family, his loved ones and his teammates who are impatient to see him again”The two players finally arrived on September 4, around 6 p.m., at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport.
