Accused of aggravated sexual assault by actress Adèle Haenel, director Christophe Ruggia will be tried on December 9 and 10

The investigating judge noted two aggravating circumstances: the actress’s minority at the time of the events and the filmmaker’s position of authority.

An investigating judge ordered, on Tuesday, August 3, that the director Christophe Ruggia be tried December 9th and 10th before the Paris Criminal Court for aggravated sexual assaults committed on actress Adèle Haenel, franceinfo learned from the Paris prosecutor’s office on Saturday, confirming information from AFP. The events occurred between September 1, 2001 and February 10, 2004.

The magistrate, however, decided to dismiss the charges of sexual assault during two international film festivals, in Marrakech and Japan. She noted two aggravating circumstances: the actress’s minority at the time of the events and the filmmaker’s position of authority. The accused is liable a ten-year prison sentence and a fine of 150,000 euros.

Asked by franceinfo, Fanny Colin, lawyer for Christophe Ruggia, did not wish to comment on the substance, but wanted to emphasize the fact that the investigating judge dismissed the case “for some of the facts reported by Mrs. Haenel”The lawyer also wanted to point out that “the obligation of care initially ordered as part of the judicial supervision of Christophe Ruggia was immediately removed by the investigating chamber”.

In her referral order consulted by AFP, the investigating judge highlighted in particular the denunciations “in a detailed, constant and precise manner” by Adèle Haenel, “his state of shock” at the time of the facts, “psychological repercussions” attacks, “the significant age difference between the two protagonists” And “the occurrence of progressive psychological constraint” imposed by the director.

A preliminary investigation was opened on November 6, 2019, on charges of sexual assault on a minor under 15 by a person in authority and sexual harassment to the detriment of Adèle Haenel, following the actress’ statements to Mediapart in an article published on November 3, 2019, implicating Christophe Ruggia. The investigations were entrusted to theCentral Office for the Suppression of Violence against PersonsAdèle Haenel was heard on November 21, 2019 and filed a complaint.

In this case, Christophe Ruggia has been under investigation since January 16, 2020 for “sexual assault on a minor under 15 by a person having authority over the victim”. He was placed under judicial supervision, with including a ban on contact with Adèle Haenel, an obligation to inform the investigating judge of any travel outside the national territory as well as an obligation to seek treatment.

Adele Haenel constituted itself as a civil party in this case. The investigation allowed for the carrying out of numerous hearings of relatives and the film crew, psychiatric and psychological assessments of Christophe Ruggia, as well as assessments for the exploitation of computer and telephone equipment. The accused was heard three times by the investigating judge. A confrontation was also organized on June 29, 2023.