The trial of a 34-year-old man accused of rape, sexual assault and sexual assault on four young female basketball players he was coaching opened Tuesday morning before the Bas-Rhin criminal court.
During the investigation, the accused admitted to having had sexual relations with these teenage girls, who were 13 and 14 years old at the start of the events, but claimed that they were consenting. The events took place mainly at his home.
A partial closed trial
Three teenage girls played in Duttlenheim (Bas-Rhin) and one in Bergerac (Dordogne), where he also played.
In three of them, he is accused of rape and sexual assault by a person abusing the authority conferred on him by his position. In a fourth, he is accused of sexual assault by a person abusing the authority of his position, the young girl assuring that she consented.
A first victim had reported the facts in March 2021, followed by others. These young girls, whose common point was their inexperience and their young age, described a man who had gradually gotten closer to them to become their confidant.
The civil parties are assisted by Mr. Pierre Giuriato and Mr. Mélissa Yesilgul-Sayar. The thirty-year-old, with a clean criminal record, is defended by Mr. Antoine Noblet and Mr. Patrick Uzan. He appears free. The trial, which is being held in partial camera, is due to end this Wednesday.
