He must answer for facts which allegedly took place under the influence of alcohol.
Actor and filmmaker Nicolas Bedos is to be tried on Thursday in Paris for "sexual assault" while drunk, in this case for touching a 25-year-old woman, during an evening in a nightclub in June last.
This trial, scheduled from 9 a.m., could however be postponed, the plaintiff's lawyer, Me Tewfik Bouzenoune, told AFP: according to him, the prosecution should in fact request the joining of this file with another which must be tried on September 26, for another alleged sexual assault and possible harassment.
Also read “Going out with him is embarrassing sometimes”: accused of rape, Nicolas Bedos in turmoil
The facts concerned by this first procedure, as reported by the complainant, allegedly took place on the night of June 1 to 2: the director allegedly touched the young woman's private parts over his pants, while she was sitting near the dance floor of a Parisian club having a drink with friends.
She explained to investigators that she had “pushed away” the filmmaker, telling him to go “get treatment”.
Then a security guard allegedly led Nicolas Bedos – the son of comedian Guy Bedos – out of the establishment.
Alcohol as an excuse
The filmmaker, who was taken into police custody a few days after the events, claimed, through his lawyer Julia Minkowski, to have apologized to the complainant.
Contacted by AFP, Me Minkowski did not want to make any comments ahead of this hearing, nor specify whether his client would appear in person at this trial.
Last June, a few days after the events, the lawyer explained that the filmmaker did not want to "question the complainant's word", but that his "inappropriate gesture", which he had "no memory of" , could “only have been accidental under the influence of intoxication”.
The two other cases which caused Nicolas Bedos, 44, to be summoned to court on September 26 are a “kiss on the neck” in a nightclub in May 2023, and the sexual harassment of another woman in June 2018, according to details communicated in December by his lawyer.
These facts "did not give rise to any complaints", the lawyer then underlined, affirming on France 5 that the prosecution, "much criticized for its inadequacies in taking into consideration sexual violence", wanted to make "strikes". com'on the backs of personalities”.