Two players from the French national rugby team accused of allegedly raping a woman in Argentina have been in custody for a week in Mendoza.
Their defence lawyer maintains they did not commit the crime.
Hugo Auradou, aged 20, and Oscar Jegou, aged 21, were arrested on Monday July 8 in Buenos Aires, two days after a match against Argentina’s Los Pumas, played in Mendoza.
On Friday July 12 they were charged with “sexual abuse with carnal access aggravated by the participation of two people,” against a woman they met in a bar after the match. This is the statutory definition of rape in Argentina.
The athletes claim the sexual intercourse was consensual and they deny acting violently as the complainant points out through her lawyers.
The first witness statements are scheduled for Tuesday.
The defence speaks
While being interviewed by AFP on Monday, their lawyer, Rafael Cúneo Libarona, pointed out that the evidence gathered is positive for his clients.
How are the young men after one week in custody?
We visit them and we bring them clothes and food every day. They’re locked up in a very serious detention centre and they are taking very good care of them. It’s a very difficult situation and I’m still fully confident about their innocence. I saw them on their own on Monday morning and then I met their relatives at noon, Auradou’s parents are here and Oscar’s aunt and manager have also come.
You maintain their innocence?
I do, more so every day, because new evidence is coming out, every day videos and images come out and technology helps us and enables us to string together and structure a very solid case for their innocence.
Has new evidence been added?
Yes, there are major leads which came out three or four days ago which already led to something and now we have very, very important evidence. I have no doubt that they did not do it, no doubt at all. For now the footage evidence is very positive, we still have the remaining evidence missing, but we have to gather it all, put it together within the same time frame.
Have you requested house arrest?
I’m worried about getting house arrest in the short term because that will favour the two players’ physical and moral integrity. If we get house arrest the alleged victim’s rights are not infringed upon. We continue the proceedings because either in prison or with house arrest, the important thing here is to continue with the proceedings, there is no flight risk or obstruction of the investigation. We should obtain it immediately. Court are working very well, they’re very firm, very organised, so I hope for a good outcome as soon as possible.
How did their relatives react?
They’re very worried, but very strong and firm, trusting the work team and their sons’ innocence.
– TIMES/AFP
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