Gérard Depardieu Trial: 18-Month Suspended Sentence Requested for Sexual Assault

Gérard Depardieu, 76, has been on trial since Monday before the Paris judicial court for alleged sexual assaults on two women, Amélie and Sarah, during the filming of Les Volets verts in 2021. On Thursday, March 27, the prosecution requested an 18-month suspended prison sentence with a three-year probation period, along with a €20,000 fine. The prosecutor also demanded mandatory psychological treatment and the actor’s registration in the sex offenders’ registry.

A Tense Trial and Maintained Accusations

From the outset, tensions ran high in the courtroom. According to the prosecutor, “One can criticize all sides, but in this case, we have victims who stand by their statements, a defendant who changes his version, and three eyewitnesses to inappropriate gestures towards Amélie at the crucial moment, which undeniably constitutes sexual assault.”

Throughout the trial, Gérard Depardieu has consistently denied the allegations, sometimes providing hesitant or even contradictory responses. He notably stated that he did not know the legal definition of sexual assault, adding, “I did not commit a sexual assault. A sexual assault is more serious than what she claims.”

Fiery Exchanges Between the Defense and Civil Parties

The defense, led by lawyer Jérémie Assous, strongly criticized the proceedings, claiming that the case lacked concrete evidence and that the prosecution’s argument was “full of vague generalities, with no precise facts.” Assous also attacked the civil parties’ lawyers, calling them “hysterical,” further escalating tensions in the courtroom.

In response, Claude Vincent, lawyer for Sarah, denounced the aggressive defense strategy and what she described as “the glorification of sexism” throughout the trial. She argued that this case proves “one cannot separate the man from the artist. He is Gérard Depardieu, and he is misogynistic!”

Controversial Statements by the Actor

During the hearings, the actor made several controversial remarks. He criticized the #MeToo movement, claiming it would “become a terror,” and lashed out at feminists: “Every time I tried to sing, there were about twenty crazy women with signs,” he told the court.

The Paris criminal court is expected to deliver its verdict in the coming weeks. Gérard Depardieu faces up to five years in prison and a €75,000 fine.