Hearing for a request for dismissal postponed due to the complainant’s health problem

A new setback. A hearing on Friday, August 23 in Mendoza (Argentina), during which the lawyers of the two French rugby players accused of rape intended to file a request for dismissal of the case, was postponed until Tuesday due to a health problem of the complainant, the lawyers indicated. She suffers from “stomach problems, quite severe pain”said one of the lawyers for the plaintiff, a 39-year-old Argentinian.

“This kind of story causes nervous problems, stress, and she had gastric symptoms prior to this case and (…) was not in a condition to come, but will be on Tuesday,” added Mauricio Cardello. The rugby players’ lawyers intended to file a request for a dismissal of the case on Friday so that they could return to France, ten days after their release by the Mendoza prosecutor’s office. However, it had ordered that they remain in Argentina for the duration of the investigation, which will soon be closed.

Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, both 21, are charged with aggravated gang rape. The events allegedly occurred on the night of July 6-7 in a hotel room in Mendoza, 1,000 km from Buenos Aires, where the French XV had just played a test match against Argentina.

The complainant, who had met the players in a nightclub and followed one of them to the hotel, said she was raped and assaulted, ““terrible violence” according to his lawyer. The accused admit to sexual relations, but say they were consensual, and deny any violence.