Depardieu's lawyers seek to overturn rape trial referral in Paris

Gérard Depardieu, 77, was sent to trial for alleged rapes in an August 2025 decision, which he has contested through an appeal. On Thursday, his newly appointed lawyers will address a private session before the Paris Court of Appeal, seeking to reverse the referral to the departmental criminal court and secure a non-pursuit verdict. The defense plans to challenge the complainant's testimony and question aspects of her credibility.

The prosecution, represented by the Paris public prosecutor's office, argues that the referral should stand, pointing to the investigative judges' conclusions and video-surveillance evidence from Depardieu's residence. Charlotte Arnould, who was 22 at the time of the alleged incident in the summer of 2018, filed a complaint shortly after the events and has reiterated her accusations throughout the proceedings. The court's deliberations will be recorded and a decision issued at a later date.