It seemed that we were finally going to see the actor Gérard Depardieu in the dock for one of the many accusations against him for assaults and sexual abuses, but it won't be this Monday, as reported by Efe. The Frenchman claims to be ill and will request a postponement of the process, announced his lawyer, Jérémie Assous.
"Gérard Depardieu is very affected (by the illness) and unfortunately his lawyer has forbidden him from attending the hearing," Assous said in statements to the public radio FranceInfor. "For that reason, he will request a postponement to a later date, in order to be able to attend, because Gérard Depardieu wants to speak out," he added.
The lawyer insisted that for Depardieu, it is "very important" to give a statement, as he has been the subject of "a certain number of accusations, which are systematically reported in good faith by the press for several years."
Assous did not specify what illness the actor is suffering from but implied that he has not been well for several days.
He clarified that when last Friday he announced that the accused had "the intention" of attending the process, it was because they were hoping that "the doctor would confirm that he could attend. Unfortunately, his health condition does not allow it."
The trial, scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. local time (12:30 GMT), relates to the complaints of two workers from the filming of the movie 'Les Volets Verts', a set decorator and an assistant director, who accused Depardieu of touching and making obscene comments.
Depardieu's lawyer has repeatedly stated that the accusations are "false" and simply seek to obtain money.
The Paris Prosecutor's Office requested last August that Depardieu be tried for another case, the rapes and other sexual assaults against the actress Charlotte Arnould, although there is still no decision from the investigating court.
The actor has been publicly or judicially accused by around twenty women, who report various sexual acts, ranging from offensive sexist remarks to rape, and the Justice system is investigating six of these cases, while some have been closed due to the expiration of the alleged events.