Auradou-Jegou case: the complainant’s appeal examined on February 10

The lawyers of Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou have another meeting with the Argentine justice system. According to our information, a hearing is in fact scheduled for Monday February 10 at 2 p.m. (10 a.m. in France) at the collegiate court of Mendoza, in the center-west of the South American country, following the appeal filed on December 13 by the lawyers of the woman accusing the rugby players of aggravated rape in a meeting.

The complainant contests the decision of judge Eleonora Arenas, who officially pronounced the dropping of the charges against the French internationals on December 10. “The fact investigated does not constitute an offense,” the magistrate then ruled, following the requisitions of the local prosecutor’s office.

Speaking to AFP, Natacha Romano, the plaintiff’s lawyer, promised a few days later to “exhaust all appeals” up to the highest courts. Contacted by Le Parisien – Today in France, German Hnatow, the players’ council, estimated that the appeal would be “ineffective because the judge was very clear and precise in her deliberations, as were the three prosecutors in charge of the “The case had been done before it, all based on evidence.”

A decision that will take several days or even weeks

The council also denounced “an additional and unfounded attempt to maintain the controversy and the media soap opera”. On February 10, the lawyers of the plaintiff, those of the accused as well as the prosecutors in charge of the case will once again present their arguments before three judges. According to various judicial sources, they could take several days or even weeks of reflection before rendering their verdict, requiring a majority (two judges out of three).

A 39-year-old woman from the South American country had filed a complaint against them for alleged acts which took place on the night of July 6 to 7 in Mendoza, following a test match won by the XV of France against the Pumas (28-13).

The internationals have always proclaimed their innocence, recognizing a consensual sexual relationship but categorically denying any form of violence. According to the Argentine Penal Code, a possible confirmation of the dismissal of the case on appeal would close “definitively and irrevocably” the judicial process (article 335) and would mean, in the case of a total abandonment of the charges, “the dismissal of the case without further action.” file” (article 338). Or the absolute exoneration of the accused.