The complainant attempted suicide, according to her lawyers

The 39-year-old Argentine who accused two players, Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou, of rape in early July attempted suicide in the early hours of Friday, according to her lawyers.

The Argentinian plaintiff who accused two French rugby players, currently charged and banned from leaving the South American country, of rape attempted suicide, her lawyers announced on Monday 26 August, on the eve of a hearing where the defence intended to request a dismissal of the case.

The 39-year-old Argentine, who accused the two players Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou, currently charged and banned from leaving the South American country, of rape in early July, attempted suicide in the early hours of Friday, according to her lawyers.

She “attempted suicide on Friday and for this reason did not appear at the hearing” that day, Mauricio Cardello said. She “is fine”, but “will not show up” nor to a hearing rescheduled for Tuesday, he added. She “is currently undergoing intensive treatment”, said her other lawyer, Natacha Romano. She is “in an emotionally disturbed state”, but “assisted by psychiatrists from the public hospital”added Mauricio Cardello.

The latter had explained to journalists present in Mendoza on Friday that his client was absent from the hearing due to “stomach problems, quite severe pain”following which “she was not in a condition to come.” According to Natacha Romano, her complainant tried to commit suicide “around 3am (8am French time) Friday”but the presence of her father prevented the worst. Quoted on the Mendoza radio station Radio Mitre, she also said that she had already made another suicide attempt, but without specifying when.

Auradou and Jegou, two 21-year-old internationals, are charged with aggravated gang rape. The alleged acts occurred on the night of July 6-7 in a hotel room in Mendoza (west, 1,000 km from Buenos Aires), where the French XV had just won a test match against Argentina. Both had honored their first selection.