Gérard Depardieu, 76, was found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on the set of the film "Les Volets Verts" in 2021.

A ruling that shakes the world of French cinema: the Paris Court has sentenced the actor to 18 months of suspended prison, as requested by the public prosecutor. Depardieu will not have to pay any fine or undergo compulsory treatment, but he will lose his civil rights for two years and will be registered as a sex offender.

The proceedings concerned two separate incidents, reported by decorator Amélie K., 54, and assistant Sarah, 34. The president of the court, Thierry Donard, deemed the first woman's statements "coherent", while noting "significant discrepancies" in the versions given by Depardieu during pre-trial detention and during the hearing. As for the incident reported by the second witness, the judge described the explanations provided by the actor, who has always denied the accusations, as "not very credible and changeable".

Depardieu was not present in the courtroom when the verdict was read. During the trial he claimed that he was not fully aware of the legal definition of sexual violence.

Depardieu will face a second trial on rape charges brought by actress Charlotte Arnould, which date back to 2018. In recent years, more than two dozen women have accused the actor of similar behavior, but several cases have been shelved due to the statute of limitations.

(Online Union)

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