The prosecution has requested 18 months' conditional imprisonment for the actor. However, they also have other demands: that Depardieu undergoes psychological therapy, is registered in the sex offender registry, and pays damages of 20,000 euros to the two women who have accused him of sexual assault.
You may think he's a good actor and love his films. But he's a sexual predator, said one of the women's lawyers in court.
The assaults that Gérard Depardieu is accused of allegedly took place in 2021 during the production of the film "Les volets verts". A now 55-year-old set designer claims to have been subjected to sexual assault and harassment, while an assistant director accuses him of sexual violence.
During the trial, it was claimed that this was not an isolated incident, but that Depardieu has committed assaults within the film industry for decades.
Others, such as the 90-year-old film star Brigitte Bardot, are defending Depardieu. She recently said in an interview with the French channel BFM that he and other MeToo accused should be allowed "to continue with their lives. They can't live anymore."
If Gérard Depardieu is convicted, he risks up to five years' imprisonment, despite the prosecution choosing to request a conditional sentence. In the end, it is the court's three judges who will deliver the verdict.
