Buenos Aires, Argentina — A disturbing turn of events has emerged in the case against two French rugby players charged with the rape of a 39-year-old woman in Argentina. The woman, who had accused Oscar Jégou and Hugo Auradou of assaulting her last month, attempted suicide shortly before a critical court date, her legal team disclosed.
According to attorney Mauricio Cardello, the woman is undergoing psychiatric care following her suicide attempt last Friday and will not attend the upcoming court hearing. This hearing is pivotal as it was expected to include a motion to dismiss the case by the defense and the presentation of a psychiatric evaluation of the woman.
Jégou and Auradou, who are both 21 years old, were arrested in July, two days after participating in their first international match where France competed against Argentina in Mendoza. Following their arrest, they were charged with aggravated rape of the woman, whom they reportedly met in a local bar post-match.
Their release to house arrest came on July 17, after which they were further freed under supervision but prohibited from leaving Argentina. The athletes have countered the accusation with claims that the encounter was consensual.
Cardello shared that his client is presently in a fragile emotional state and receiving treatment at Lagomaggiore public hospital in Mendoza. The attempt on her life occurred around 3 am last Friday, which was thwarted by timely intervention by her father.
Further complicating the upcoming legal proceedings, another lawyer of the plaintiff, Natacha Romano, initially cited “stomach problems” as the reason for the woman’s inability to attend court, assured authorities that she would be present at Tuesday’s hearing. However, current circumstances have prevented her from participating.
On the legal front, the prosecutor’s office in Mendoza reported to the court that prevailing contradictions in the plaintiff’s account and lack of substantial evidence made it implausible to request the pre-trial detention of Jégou and Auradou. This situation has seemingly bolstered the defense’s strategy to push for a case dismissal and seek permission for the athletes to return to France.
Spokesperson for the Mendoza provincial justice system, Martin Ahumada, noted that the absence of the plaintiff does not strictly obstruct the French players’ lawyers from proposing the dismissal of the charges during Tuesday’s hearing.
The situation raises broader concerns about the treatment and support of assault victims within the judicial system, particularly in cases involving high-profile figures. The episode further ignites debates over the presumption of innocence versus the right of alleged victims to a fair hearing, especially when the accused have significant public standing or resources. As this legal battle unfolds, the international community watches closely, awaiting not just the verdict but the implications it might hold for judicial practices concerning assault cases worldwide.