A decision on a possible dismissal of charges for Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, the two French rugby players charged with aggravated rape in Argentina almost five months ago, was deliberated on Tuesday. The wait should not exceed two to three weeks.
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At the end of a second day of hearing behind closed doors at the judicial center of Mendoza (west), the parties’ lawyers indicated to the press that judge Eleonora Arenas, who presided over the proceedings, postponed her decision until later. late. They even invited her to “ take your time ”, they said.
The judge “ will decide the result, and will take (the) few days necessary. It’s a complicated case “, said Rafael Cuneo Libarona, lawyer for the players. She ” didn’t say » how long it would take to make its decision, he said. “ She has to analyze everything. (…) Let her take her time.”
According to a judicial source in Mendoza consulted by AFP, the judge has up to 15 working days to render her decision.
After the presentations on Monday by the prosecution, which requested the dismissal of the case, that is to say the abandonment of the proceedings against the players, then of their lawyers, it was Natacha Romano, lawyer of the plaintiff, an Argentinian from 39 years old, who pleaded Tuesday.
“ We requested the total dismissal (of the dismissal), arguing above all that there is proof of production (of the crime), and that we must continue to investigate », declared Me Romano to the press at the end of the hearing.
His client “ wanted to be present (at the hearing) but his state of health did not allow it “, based on psychiatric recommendations, she added. She lives a terrible mix of feelings in this matter ”, but remains “ convinced of its truth “.
Mr. Romano said he asked the judge “ let her take all the time she needs “, especially for ” listen to the 23 audio messages in their entirety » appearing in the file, between the complainant and a particular friend. Some of which had leaked to the press.
Radically opposed versions
The players’ defense believes that these exchanges, which occurred shortly after the events, betray the existence of consent, which the complainant firmly disputes.
Mr. Romano said “ have confidence in the assessment » of Judge Arenas, whose recusal she had requested, a request ultimately rejected.
Me Cuneo Libarona for his part estimated that the defense of the players “ step by step demonstrated innocence » by MM. Auradou and Jegou. “ This crime did not exist, we have no doubt “, he insisted, because of “ the existence of consent ”, but also “ the amount of contradictions » of the complainant.
“ We must protect women, those who have actually been attacked » sexually, he got carried away. Not one legal adventure like this case “.
For almost five months, Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, 21, have been charged with aggravated rape, because they were committed in a meeting, for alleged acts that occurred on the night of July 6 to 7 in a hotel in Mendoza, where the XV of France had just played a test match against Argentina, followed by a “ third half “.
Both have affirmed from the beginning that the sexual relations with the complainant, met in a nightclub, were consensual and without violence.
The complainant’s lawyer, however, denounced a rape with ” terrible violence », in a case which saw two radically opposed versions of the facts clash, apart from a convergence on the reality of sexual acts and an alcoholic context.
Rendering justice “ is difficult when one says white and the other says black », commented Me Cuneo on Tuesday.
Returned to France at the beginning of September after the green light from the Argentine courts – the prosecution then considered that the prosecution had “ lost his strength » -, MM. Auradou and Jegou resumed the course of their professional careers in the Top 14: from October for Auradou with Pau, November for Jegou with La Rochelle. Both played last weekend.
But for a possible return to the French team, the president of the Federation Florian Grill was very clear in affirming that they would not play again “ as long as there is no dismissal “.