French actor Gérard Depardieu has been ordered to stand trial over allegations of rape and sexual assault from 2018 involving fellow actress Charlotte Arnould. Arnould expressed relief at the development, seven years after she initially lodged her complaint.
Depardieu, 76, firmly denies the charges, claiming that his interactions with Arnould were consensual. This latest trial comes on the heels of a May conviction for sexually assaulting two members of a film production crew, resulting in his inclusion on a sex offender register but no imprisonment.
Seven years later, seven years of horror and hell... I think I'm having trouble realizing how huge this is. I'm relieved, Arnould remarked on social media, reflecting on her long ordeal.
Depardieu's trial concerns allegations that he assaulted Arnould on two occasions at his Paris residence in August 2018. Arnould's lawyer, Carine Durrieu Diebolt, stated that they feel relieved and confident as they await further legal proceedings, seeing this as a step towards judicial truth.
The trial date remains unconfirmed, with Depardieu continuing to assert his innocence. In a letter to Le Figaro earlier in 2023, he declared, Never, ever have I abused a woman, emphasizing the consensual nature of his relationship with Arnould.
This case initially faced dismissal due to a lack of evidence, but further developments occurred after Arnould refiled a complaint in 2020, leading to a renewed investigation.
