MEven if there was little suspense, the decision of the Argentine courts against Rugby players Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou was eagerly awaited. This Tuesday, in accordance with the requests of the prosecution, judge Eleonora Arenas ordered the abandonment of the proceedings which targeted the two French internationals, respectively players of the Stade Rochelais and Section paloise clubs. The two men had been charged with aggravated rape since last July, during their visit to Mendoza during a tour of the XV of France in Argentina.
“Justice has been served”
In a press release, the Mendoza judicial center indicated that “the act investigated does not constitute a crime”, therefore that there was no rape.
“The legal rehabilitation has been achieved,” said one of the players’ lawyers, 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”
“Oscar Jegou is innocent! This decision to dismiss the case officially recognizes this. The Argentine justice system took note of all the objective elements collected in this file, which systematically corroborated the players’ statements. […] Justice has passed. I am relieved to see the innocence of Oscar Jegou recognized, who overcame this ordeal at the age of 20, thanks to the unfailing support of his family, his agent and his club Le Stade Rochelais, which never withdrew his confidence” she declared to “Sud Ouest” Me Céline Astolfe, Oscar Jegou’s lawyer.
The two players were accused of rape by a 39-year-old woman they met in a nightclub during an alcoholic evening. The young woman said she agreed to take the players back to their hotel for a last drink before being beaten and forced to have sex with the two men.
The procedure which began with the placement in pre-trial detention of the two players then suffered a spectacular turnaround after a few weeks. A series of exculpatory elements convinced the public prosecutor who pointed out “notorious inconsistencies and gray areas” in the complainant’s speech.
Among these elements included in particular a medical report deemed inconclusive, video surveillance images from the hotel before the events (in which the complainant was seen kissing Hugo Auradou), ambiguous audio messages sent by the complainant to a friend the day after the facts as well as psychological expertise unfavorable for the young woman.
“An unfounded and incomplete decision”
For her part, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Me Natacha Romano denounced a “biased” procedure, recalling in passing that the brother of the Argentine Minister of Justice was included in the players’ team of lawyers and had tried without success to challenge the magistrates. The position of the complainant did not change upon hearing the judgment of dismissal. Requested by “Sud Ouest”, Me Romano announced his intention to appeal, denouncing an “unfounded, harmful and incomplete” decision. If the decision was confirmed on appeal, the procedure would then be definitively closed.
Stade Rochelais and the Pau section reacted to the decision to dismiss the case. “After many months of a grueling procedure, this decision is a real relief for Oscar and his family, as well as for Stade Rochelais which tirelessly supported him,” indicated Stade Rochelais.
The Section announced that it welcomed with “relief and satisfaction the decision to dismiss the case pronounced by the Mendoza Judicial Court on Tuesday. This decision marks the recognition of Hugo’s innocence and must end a very trying 5-month sequence for the player, his family, the club and all lovers of our sport. Hugo will now be able to fully concentrate on rugby and an important second part of the season for him and the club. »
The affair caused an earthquake in French rugby, casting a harsh light on the third halves, these festive moments granted to players after matches, traditionally alcoholic. Florian Grill, the president of the French Rugby Federation, had promised to bring order to these practices. In any case, he announced that no return to the French team was possible before an official dismissal from the Argentine justice system. This Tuesday, the FFR therefore declared the two players “selectable” again.
