Jegou-Auradou case: “Notable contradictions” in the plaintiff's testimony according to the lawyer of the two players

The alleged victim of an aggravated rape of which two French rugby players are accused was questioned at length on Tuesday in Argentina by the magistrate in charge of the case, a deposition “without flaw” according to her lawyer, while the players' lawyer pointed out “contradictions”.

The complainant, aged 39, was questioned for more than four hours in Mendoza (west), in the presence of her lawyers and those of the defense, by the prosecutor of the unit of crimes against sexual integrity, Dario Nora.

The two players, Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou, who are under house arrest, must be interviewed on Thursday. Tuesday's hearing was a supplemental deposition to the initial deposition on July 7, "mostly clarifications" told the press the plaintiff's lawyer, Natacha Romano.

"The innocence of the two rugby players was demonstrated"

A testimony "flawless, very moving, the victim contained himself, and at one point his brother was allowed in, for support", she added. During the hearing, he was made to listen to audio messages related to the facts, “which is allowed despite the feeling of re-victimization of the moment, but she was able to explain each of them very calmly”, added the lawyer.

Read also: Jegou-Auradou case: hearing of the two French XV players before the Argentine courts postponed to August 8

Jegou and Auradou's Argentine lawyer, Rafael Cuneo Libarona, for his part gave a categorically different interpretation of the hearing, considering that “the innocence of the two rugby players has been proven”, even if he cannot at this stage “give details”.

Contradiction

“There have been notable contradictions” between the statements of the complainant “and, what is worse, different versions have been accommodated (…) the prosecution has very well noticed certain contradictions between his first and second statements”, he assured.

Auradou and Jegou, both aged 21, are accused of aggravated rape because they were gang raped, on the night of 6 to 7 July in a hotel room in Mendoza, 1000 km from Buenos Aires, where the French XV had just played a test match against Argentina. They had just obtained their first selection. The two French XV players admit to having sexual intercourse with the complainant, who says she was beaten and raped, but claim that it was consensual and deny any form of violence.

Read also: Jegou-Auradou case: “There is an anomaly”, three French XV players witnesses heard… The complainant's lawyer speaks out

Arrested on July 8 in Buenos Aires, where the French delegation had returned, they were transferred to Mendoza on July 11 and charged the following day. They left the detention center on July 17 after being granted house arrest.

The two players during their hearing Thursday "will answer all the questions from the judge, the complainant or us, absolutely everything", assured Me Cuneo Libarona.