Prosecutors call for French film star Gerard Depardieu to face trial over rape allegations

08/22/2024 03:46 PM

PROSECUTORS have called for movie star Gerard Depardieu to stand trial for raping a young actress over two days at his home.

The 75-year-old's alleged victim said the announcement was "a huge step forward".

Charlotte Arnould, now 28, claims she was raped and sexually assaulted by the French star in Paris in August 2018. 

Her lawyer Carine Durrieu-Diebolt said the request for trial was "the result of a long investigation that made it possible to gather the elements that corroborate my client's words".

Her complaint was initially dismissed but reopened when further evidence emerged. 

 Depardieu claims sex with her was consensual.

He is already set to face trial in October for alleged sexual assaults against two different women in 2021.

Counsel for Depardieu did not immediately respond to the call for a trial, but the Green Card and Last Metro star has continually claimed that sex with Ms Arnould was consensual.

Depardieu is already set to face another trial in October for alleged sexual assaults against two different women during a film shoot in 2021.

Last year, Depardieu broke his silence over claims saying: 'I am neither a rapist nor a predator.'

Accusing enemies of subjecting him to a 'lynching' in the media, he expressed his anger in an open letter to the French press. 

Ms Arnould renounced her legal right to anonymity at the end of 2021, following Depardieu being charged with rape and sexual assault.