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The former deputy mayor of Talence will no longer sit on the municipal council, even "
without delegation or compensation
".
The Bordeaux court delivered its deliberations on Friday: Patrick Duart, 71, was found guilty of two sexual assaults against caregivers who took turns at the bedside of his wife between 2014 and 2021 (until his death in January of this year).
And his sentence is less "heavy" than the requisitions of the prosecution: six months in prison with simple suspension, while the public prosecutor had pleaded for four months of probation, on January 20.
"
Patrick Duart's personality and lack of dangerousness have been taken into account
", specifies his lawyer.
Me Julien Plouton thus recognizes a " very measured
" sentence
, although "
unsatisfactory
" because his client considers himself "
innocent
".
A five-year ineligibility sentence and registration in the file of perpetrators of sexual or violent offenses (Fijais) were also pronounced in addition to a referral of the case to a civil court on September 21.
The prejudice of a nurse, who filed a civil action after having practiced for six years with the Duart spouses, was also recognized.
The convict will have to pay the sum of 800 euros in this respect, to the one with whom he had a relationship that has become more than professional over time.
In a complaint dated June 5, 2020, Naima* accused him "
of having jumped on her by touching her breasts
" a few days earlier, on May 28, 2020. A story corroborated by witnesses, which convinced the court.
Especially since Patrick Duart, who presented “
explanations that were not credible
” according to the psychiatrist's report during the investigation, minimized and denied the facts during his trial.
“I was maddeningly naive,”
he thus advanced to the bar, four days after being dismissed from his post by the mayor of Talence, Emmanuel Sallaberry.
“
I take note of the court decision in a strictly private matter.
I have just spoken with him and he confirmed to me that he was resigning from his functions as municipal councilor of Talence
, ”specifies the city councilor to
Figaro
this Friday.
Absent from the trial and unrepresented, the second victim had not joined as a civil party.
Intervened four to six times at Patrick Duart's home in November 2019, this 25-year-old Moroccan had exercised her right of withdrawal, saying she was "
uncomfortable
".
During her hearings by the investigators, she reported that the former elected official had notably made comments on “
his pretty chest
” by allowing himself “
embarrassing reconciliations
”.
He would also have "
pressed her against the kitchen worktop
", her erect penis.
An interrogation whose defense lawyer, Me Julien Plouton, had moreover castigated the “
leading” questions
” likely, according to him, to distort the testimony of the victim who “
speaks French badly
”.
Patrick Duart is considering appealing and now has ten days to do so.
*The first names of the civil parties have been changed.