Gerard Depardieu sexual assault trial begins in Paris

Two women have accused the actor of sexual assault on the set of 2021 film Les Volets Verts.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsUS ElectionSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifyUS ElectionElection pollsKamala HarrisDonald TrumpJD VanceTim WalzSportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsUS ElectionSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersGerard Depardieu's sexual assault trial opens in ParisGetty ImagesGerard Depardieu's trial on charges of sexual assault has began in Paris with the star absent, after his lawyer asked for a delay to proceedings citing the actor's health issues.

Depardieu is accused of attacking two women while shooting the 2021 film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters), in the highest profile #MeToo case to hit the country.

Prosecutors say he made explicit sexual remarks to, and then aggressively "groped", two members of the movie's production team. If convicted he could face five years in jail.

The 75-year-old denies the charges and said in an open letter published last year that he has never "abused a woman".

Proceedings opened at a criminal court in the French capital at around 13:30 local time (12:30 GMT). Depardieu's lawyer, Jeremie Assous, told French media that the actor had been "deeply affected" by illness and was advised by his doctors not to attend the trial.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yxgprxg85o

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