Rape in Argentina: French Rugby players exonerated

Argentinian justice has dropped charges against two French rugby players Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou charged with aggravated rape in Argentina in July during a tour of the French XV, we learned on Tuesday from the players’ lawyers.

“The (sexual) act was consensual, no crime was committed and there is no doubt that they are innocent,” declared Me German Hnatow, following a deliberation at the Mendoza judicial center ( west). “The judicial rehabilitation has been achieved,” said the players’ Parisian lawyer, Me Antoine Vey, “the two players were victims of false accusations.”

“The Argentine justice system which investigated, which did so on the basis of objective elements which are videos, testimonies, expert opinions, was able to clearly say that the facts of which they were accused did not exist”, added Me Vey to AFP.

«Violence terrible»

Auradou and Jegou, 21, were prosecuted for aggravated rape, committed in a meeting on the night of July 6 to 7 in a hotel in Mendoza where the XV of France had just played a match against Argentina.

From the start, the players from Pau and La Rochelle have affirmed that the sexual relations with the complainant, a 39-year-old Argentinian, were consensual and without violence. The complainant’s lawyer has always denounced a rape with “terrible violence”.

But early in the case, notably in mid-August when deciding to release the two players, the prosecution noted “notorious contradictions, inconsistencies, gray areas” in the complainant’s story. This is why the Public Prosecutor’s Office pleaded for the prosecution to be dropped at the beginning of October following the investigation.

Again “selectable”

The decision rendered Tuesday may not be final. The plaintiff’s defense has the possibility of appealing, which would send the case to another instance.

Rugby players Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou are once again “selectable” to play with the French XV, the French rugby federation said on Tuesday following the dismissal decision.

“If their sporting performances allow it, they will potentially be selected to play again in the French team,” indicates a press release from the federation, which says it welcomes the legal decision “with relief and satisfaction”. Both players were selected for Blue, played just before their arrest in Argentina in July.

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