Jegou-Auradou case: “We are convinced that they will quickly regain their freedom,” says their lawyer

Les deux hommes ont répondu aux questions ce jeudi. MAXPPP

The Argentinian lawyer for the French rugby players charged with rape in Argentina said on Thursday that he was “confident” after their hearings that they would “quickly regain their freedom”, and filed a request to this effect on Thursday, August 8.

“We feel freedom, we are convinced that they will quickly regain their freedom”, declared to the press Me Rafael Cuneo Libarona, at the end of more than five hours of depositions by Hugo Auradou, then Oscar Jegou, at the judicial center of Mendoza (west).

The depositions, collected by the prosecutor of the Sexual Offenses Unit, Dario Nora, in the presence of the lawyers of both parties, were their first on the merits, since their arrest on July 8 and their indictment.

Auradou and Jegou, both 21, are charged with aggravated rape because they gang-raped a 39-year-old Argentinian woman on the night of July 6-7, in a hotel in Mendoza, a thousand kilometers from Buenos Aires, where the French XV had just played a test match against Argentina.

Two versions oppose each other

The complainant, who has already been heard, says she went with one of the players, whom she met in a nightclub, to his hotel room, then suffered rape and violence there by both players, who had returned later late.

Everything you need to know about the Jegou-Auradou affair.

His lawyer cites “strong” evidence, in particular the injuries observed. For his part, the defense lawyer has said from the beginning that he is “confident” of the innocence of the players, who admit to having sexual intercourse with the complainant, but affirm that it was consensual, and deny any violence.

Towards a return to France ?

Me Cuneo Libarona said he filed a request on Thursday for the release of the two Frenchmen, who have been in preventive detention under house arrest since July 17, after spending around ten days in a detention center. The judge has until Monday to rule, he specified. He said on Thursday that he was “very happy” with the day of the hearing.

“Hugo answered more than 150 questions from the prosecution, the defense and(the lawyers of) the complainant, and Oscar had to answer 50, 60 questions from everyone”. For the lawyer, release means “return to France” of the players, he said.

Freedom “is a global concept, not a restriction", although it “does not prevent indictment. The process (the investigation) continues", but "could be completed in two months", he said. For the plaintiff's lawyer, Natacha Romano, the “logical and coherent” plan would be for the players to remain indicted, and in Argentina.