Black coat on his shoulders, Nicolas Bedos arrived a little before 9 a.m. in the courtroom.
He came out less than an hour later, without having been judged.
And without commenting.
This Thursday, the 44-year-old actor was to appear before the Paris criminal court where he is suspected of having sexually assaulted, while he was intoxicated, a 25-year-old woman on the night of 1 to 2 June 2023 in a Parisian nightclub.
Despite his desire to be tried, the courts decided to postpone the trial so that the actor could be tried on September 26.
And the date is not a coincidence of the calendar.
The prosecution actually asked the court to attach today's file to two other cases for which Nicolas Bedos must also appear in court in September.
These concern acts of sexual assault committed on a woman in Paris between May 11 and 12, 2023 "by a person in a state of obvious intoxication" and for "sexual harassment" on June 14 and 15, 2018 in Paris on another woman.
“This allows my client not to be judged alone”
A decision to join the three cases which was opposed by the actor's lawyer, Me Julia Minkowski.
“Nicolas Bedos wants to be judged.
He wants to present his defense, to save his honor,” pleaded the criminal lawyer.
And to recall that the facts alleged this Thursday are “distinct” from those of September.
According to the young woman's testimony, the actor would have “touched and grabbed” her in the crotch, recalls the latter's lawyer, Me Tewfik Bouzenoune, this Thursday at the end of the hearing.
Me Bouzenoune, who recalled that this referral follows a desire of the public prosecutor who "felt that it was necessary to join the files", welcomed the decision to organize "a single hearing with regard to only one defendant.
“This allows my client not to be judged alone
(…)
even though it is she who freed the speech of other women.
It took courage.
For her, it's a relief.
» And remember that the complainant “very clearly” blames a sexual assault by Nicolas Bedos.
“The file is well constructed with clear and consistent statements on the materiality of the facts.
But there are other elements.
There were other people who were present that day and who saw that something had happened and who immediately collected my client's statements,” underlines the lawyer, also citing the medical expertise. and the “acute stress” experienced by the young woman.
Asked about the defense of the actor, who says he does not remember due to his drunkenness, Me Bouzenoune did not wish to comment.
“This will be discussed at the hearing.
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