“Gérard Depardieu wants to be heard!” insisted his lawyer at the opening on Monday of his client's trial for sexual assault on two women before the Paris criminal court before his dismissal due to his state of health of the accused.
The trial will take place on March 24 and 25, 2025 at 1:30 p.m., indicated the president of the correctional chamber after more than an hour of deliberation.
On Monday, Gérard Depardieu did not appear, his lawyer citing a state of health incompatible with a hearing and recalling that his client had undergone quadruple coronary bypass surgery and suffered from diabetes amplified by the stress of the upcoming trial.
The president has requested a medical assessment with a professional qualified in cardiology and vascular conditions before the next hearing.
The postponement of the trial was decided after hectic pleadings, the defense lawyer having from his first words denounced a botched and incriminating preliminary investigation.
On several occasions, Jérémie Assous, the actor's lawyer, pointed the finger at the complainants, accusing them of “seeking the light of the media” and denying their status as victims.
On the civil parties' bench, Amélie, 53, and Sarah (first name changed), 33, continued to sigh and roll their eyes at these accusations.
“The defense methods are particularly violent and aim to create new trauma for the victims,” Amélie’s lawyer, Me Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, told AFP.
Gérard Depardieu is being prosecuted for sexual assault on these women during the filming of the film “Les Volets Verts” by Jean Becker in 2021, which led to the opening of an investigation.
– “Brutality” –
Amélie, production designer on the film, denounces facts which allegedly took place in September 2021, in a private mansion in the 16th arrondissement of Paris.
In her story to the investigative site Mediapart, she explained that Gérard Depardieu would have suddenly shouted, during a conversation, that he wanted a “fan”, because he could “not even get hard” in this heat, then he would have assured of being able to “make women come without touching them”.
An hour later, he allegedly “grabbed her roughly” as she left the set. Mr. Depardieu would then have “blocked her by closing his legs on (her) like a crab”, then would have “kneaded her waist, her stomach, going up to (her) breasts”, she assured .
He also allegedly made “obscene remarks” to her such as “Come touch my big parasol, I’m going to shove it in your pussy”.
The second plaintiff, Sarah, was an assistant director on the film.
“Gérard Depardieu completely refutes all the accusations,” recalled his lawyer on Monday, believing that his client was the victim of “a very large number of inaccuracies, false information and lies”.
In the room, no major figure of French cinema was present apart from the actress Anouk Grinberg, who came to support the plaintiffs.
“There is the delusional behavior of a king who thinks he can do anything and everyone keeps their mouths shut. Well no, that’s enough!” declared the one who had already denounced the behavior of Gérard Depardieu.
Also present, Charlotte Arnould who was the first to file a complaint against the famous actor in 2018.
In August, the Paris prosecutor's office requested the referral of Gérard Depardieu to the criminal court so that he could be tried for rape and sexual assault on the actress.
“I hope that he (Gérard Depardieu) will have the courage to be there because we will be there, we are ready to confront him so that he finally tells the truth,” Amélie declared to the from the hearing in front of the many cameras present.
