The 39-year-old Argentine was unable to attend Friday’s hearing, and will not attend the one rescheduled for Tuesday, August 27, even though her lawyers assure that she is “doing well.” The defense intended to file a request for dismissal of the case this Tuesday.
The 39-year-old Argentinian accused of raping French rugby players Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou attempted suicide on Friday August 23, her lawyers announced on Monday. “For this reason, she did not appear at the hearing.” that day, said one of them, Mauricio Cardello. She “is doing well”more “will not show up” nor to a hearing rescheduled on Tuesday. That same day, the lawyers of the players, released but banned from leaving Argentina, intended to file a request for dismissal of the case to obtain their return to France.
The complainant “is currently undergoing intensive treatment”says her other lawyer, Natacha Romano. She is “in an emotionally disturbed state”more “assisted by psychiatrists from the public hospital”added his colleague. On Friday, he explained to journalists present in Mendoza that his client was absent from the hearing due to “stomach problems, quite severe pain”following which “she was not in a condition to come.”
The two 21-year-old international rugby players are charged with aggravated gang rape. The alleged acts allegedly occurred on the night of July 6 to 7 in a hotel room in Mendoza – a city located 1,000 km from Buenos Aires where the French XV had just won a test match against Argentina. Both had honored their first selection. The complainant, who had met the players in a nightclub and followed one of them to the hotel, says she was raped and assaulted by both – “terrible violence” according to his lawyer. The accused admit to sexual relations, but say they were consensual and deny any violence.
Request for dismissal
Placed in custody shortly after their arrest on July 8, the two players were placed under house arrest on the 17th, then released two weeks ago by decision of the prosecutor, although they were prohibited from leaving Argentina during the investigation. In ordering their release, the prosecutor noted “notorious contradictions, inconsistencies, gray areas” in the complainant’s version.
The announced absence of the plaintiff at Tuesday’s hearing does not prevent the players’ lawyers from filing their request for dismissal, says Martin Ahumada, spokesman for the Mendoza justice system. The hearing also included the results of a psychiatric assessment of the plaintiff, one of the last acts expected.
If the defense files a request for dismissal, the prosecution will have to rule on it, then a hearing will be convened within a few days for a judge to examine it.
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