The conviction of Richard Berry's daughter, Coline Berry-Rotjman, for defamation of her ex-mother-in-law Jeane Manson was confirmed Thursday by the Riom Court of Appeal (Puy-de-Dôme).
The court
“confirms the judgment of first instance in all its provisions”
.
Coline Berry-Rotjman's lawyer, Me Patrick Klugman, immediately announced an appeal in cassation.
On April 14, the Aurillac court sentenced Coline Berry-Rojtman, 46, to a fine of 2,000 euros for defamation.
The actor's daughter also had to pay 20,000 euros in damages to her former mother-in-law, as well as 5,000 euros in legal costs.
The Riom Court of Appeal added the same amount for legal costs, i.e. a total of 10,000 euros.
"Faced with a decision that criminalizes the speech of victims of sexual violence, Coline Berry decides to appeal to the Court of Cassation
," said Me Klugman's office in a press release.
"This decision contains all the elements of a scandal that cannot and must not continue either in our rule of law or for the freedom of speech of victims of sexual abuse and incest"
, he specified. , regretting in particular that the first instance decision was rendered while the investigation on the merits was in progress.
Read alsoIncest accusations: the investigation against Richard Berry dismissed for prescription
“It is the end of a legal episode which restores the truth for the benefit of Jeane Manson and Richard Berry. The lies are denounced, and Coline Berry is defeated in her allegations”,
indicated to AFP Me Jacques Verdier, lawyer for Jeane Manson, adding that his client was “very happy”.
On February 14, 2021, in an article published by
Le Monde
, Coline Berry-Rojtman spoke of the sexual violence she allegedly suffered as a minor in 1984 and 1985 at the home of her father who was then living with Jeane Manson, accused of having participated with him. to these attacks.
The 71-year-old former singer had decided to sue her ex-daughter-in-law for defamation in court in Aurillac, in Cantal, where she lives part of the year.
Also implicated, the journalists of
Le Monde
and the daily newspaper had not been convicted.
The investigation targeting the actor accused of incest by his daughter was dismissed on August 31 due to prescription.