(26 Mar 2025)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paris – 26 March 2024
1. Wide Gérard Depardieu exiting courtroom for break
2. SOUNDBITE (French) Jérémie Assous, Gérard Depardieu’s lawyer:
"So, as we told you all along, as we repeat at every hearing, it is – the debates make it possible to verify the accusations, to confront the accusations with reality, to confront the witnesses with each other, to confront the witnesses with reality. And what just happened this afternoon is extremely important, is that the prosecution witness, the famous key witness for the sexual assault of which the main complainant claims to be a victim, has just confirmed at the stand, at the hearing in front of everyone, that she absolutely did not see any sexual assault. She just saw this person between the legs of Mr. Gérard Depardieu, seven meters away, which was what we had measured. Measurements had been taken. And she also indicated that there were a minimum of between four and five people in the room in which the complainant and Gérard Depardieu were located. This shows, reveals indisputably that if there had been an attack, there would have been at least four or five people. I recall to you that he is the most indictable witness and is the only witness who was called by the civil parties. So when we tell you that the most important thing is the demonstration, it is the investigations, this afternoon has just demonstrated it. You also have a second witness who came, it was Gérard Depardieu’s bodyguard, and he testified that it was impossible for Gérard Depardieu to cover 150 meters, even 100 meters. In this case, the second complainant says that he accompanied her alone, and that is when the sexual assault occurred. He accompanied her alone, over a distance that varies between 180 meters and 210 meters. It’s just physically impossible, as we had no doubt about it. We have even produced medical certificates, expert reports that confirm that it is impossible for Gérard Depardieu to cover such a distance on foot. Reason why the bodyguard always has a scooter, a scooter for Gérard Depardieu and a scooter for him, since he escorts him on a scooter."
3. Wide exterior of courtroom
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Jérémie Assous, Gérard Depardieu’s lawyer:
"There is no doubt possible, there is no ambiguity possible. If there had been the slightest violent gesture on the part of Gérard Depardieu, if there had been at least bodyguard who would have pulled Gérard Depardieu out, she would not only have seen him, but he should have passed in front of her. She did say ‘I didn’t see anyone.’ So there is no sexual assault. That is totally untrue. It’s terrible. But now, we must, please, relay this information. It is information that is public. It is recorded on the hearing notes. Thank you."
5. Wide Gérard Depardieu returning to courtroom
STORYLINE:
A woman accusing French actor Gérard Depardieu of sexual assault told a landmark trial in Paris on Wednesday that he groped her buttocks and her breasts several times in three separate incidents on a film set.
Depardieu, 76, is accused of groping a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during filming in 2021 of “Les Volets Verts” (“The Green Shutters”). He denies any sexual assault.
Day 3 of the Paris trial focused on the testimony of the younger plaintiff, who said Depardieu first groped her bottom when she was alone with him for a brief moment between the backstage area and the film set.
The Associated Press doesn’t identify by name people who say they were sexually assaulted unless they consent to. Neither women has done so in this case.
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