Contrary to what had been announced on numerous occasions, the so-called “Jegou-Auradou” case should not see its first verdict this Friday, October 18. Here’s why.
If the investigation of the “Jegou-Auradou” case is coming to an end and the investigation now seems complete, after the rejection last week of a final medical report proposed by the complainant, we will still have to wait a little to know the verdict of Argentine justice in this case. Indeed, if a dismissal hearing is indeed planned for this Friday, it should not lead to any official communication.
As a reminder, prosecutors Dario Nora (prosecutor in charge of the investigation) and Daniela Chaler (head of prosecutors of the crimes against sexual integrity unit) had requested a dismissal of the case, on October 4, in this case involving the two players of the XV of France for accusations of aggravated rape.
The appointment was therefore given for Friday October 18. And the promise of a verdict, from the hand of Judge Eleonora Arenas? According to our information, this will not be the case. This will actually be the first “episode” of a “hearing over 2 days, scheduled for October 18 and 25 to officially request the dismissal of the case”informs the players’ legal entourage. Yet another official step in the legal procedure, in short, much more than an end point. “On October 25, the second dismissal hearing will be held. During these two hearings, each of the parties will plead. The deliberations can then be rendered between the 25 and the following ten days.” If the dismissal were to be confirmed, the complainant and her counsel would have the possibility of appealing.
No November test matches for players
This new deadline marks the end of the slim hopes that the players might have had of appearing on Fabien Galthié’s list, to prepare for the fall test matches of the XV of France. This was already confirmed for Oscar Jegou, who has still not played in the Top 14 and who his club, Stade Rochelais, could still preserve until confirmation of a dismissal. For Hugo Auradou, the return to the field took place two weeks ago, with the Pau Section on the Perpignan lawn. Also starting the following week against Castres, he appeared in very good form and could, in other circumstances, have applied for the Blues rally.
As a reminder, in an exclusive interview given to Midi Olympique at the end of July, coach Fabien Galthié had not closed the door to the two players, despite the affair which was then reaching its climax. “They are still part of it. I don’t speak of them in the imperfect tense. They are still part of our gems.” Later, his vice-president in charge of the French teams, Jean-Marc Lhermet, was, however, much more firm regarding a hasty return : “Without an official dismissal, Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou will not play in the French team. The position I express is that of the FFR. Pau does what he wants, the same for La Rochelle.”
More recently, an Odoxa survey for RTL delivered a similar feeling among the general public: 68% of French people do not want to see Jegou and Auradou in the French team before a dismissal. This dismissal, it is now a certainty, will not occur before the first gathering of the XV of France in Marcoussis, scheduled for Sunday October 27.
