FRANCE: French court ruling on Depardieu drunk driving case due on June 21

Record ID: 859353

  • Title: FRANCE: French court ruling on Depardieu drunk driving case due on June 21
  • Date: 25th May 2013
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 24, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF PARIS COURTHOUSE INTERIOR OF COURTHOUSE / SECURITY VARIOUS OF MEDIA IN COURTHOUSE ACTOR GERARD DEPARDIEU'S LAWYER ERIC DE CAUMONT COMING OUT OF COURTROOM DE CAUMONT TALKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) ACTOR GERARD DEPARDIEU'S LAWYER, ERIC DE CAUMONT, SAYING: "The prosecution's request is a bit much, especially with regards to the fine. But it's true -- because it's almost close to the maximum -- but it's true that the judges are expected to hand down fines that are proportionate to the income and monetary situation of the people who are being judged. So I would to have to disagree that Mr. Depardieu is needy, financially." DE CAUMONT SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French) ACTOR GERARD DEPARDIEU'S LAWYER, ERIC DE CAUMONT, SAYING: "There was, since the last hearing and there still has been since the last 48 hours, a perfect consensus between the accused, the defence and the court for Mr. Depardieu, who can't be present for professional reasons, to be represented by his lawyer. So I think there really isn't a problem in this matter, I am pretty surprised that one would bring this up, to say one wishes he would show up. It was known, it was known he wouldn't be here." DE CAUMONT LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • City:
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAXIZLUIY565IG0KS1RL7VNS2R
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  • Story Text: French court to hand down ruling on actor Gerard Depardieu's drunk driving charges on June 21.
    French film star Gerard Depardieu, who skipped a court hearing in Paris on drink-driving charges on Tuesday (My 24), will be handed a verdict on June 21, laywers said.
    The 63-year old actor who faces charges for a drunk-driving incident while on his scooter in the French capital in November, recently grabbed headlines for moving to Belgium and acquiring a Russian passport to avoid a planned 75 percent tax on millionaires.
    Prosecutors have sought a 4,000 euro fine and a 10-month suspension of his driver's license.
    But Depardieu's lawyer who represented him at Tuesday's hearing, said he felt the requested sentence was too hefty.
    "The prosecution's request is a bit much, especially with regards to the fine. But it's true -- because it's almost close to the maximum -- but it's true that the judges are expected to hand down fines that are proportionate to the income and monetary situation of the people who are being judged. So I would to have to disagree that Mr. Depardieu is needy, financially," he told reporters.
    Depardieu who is currently filming his next movie in Chechnya, was not obliged to attend the hearing, Caumont said.
    "There was, since the last hearing and there still has been since the last 48 hours, a perfect consensus between the accused, the defence and the court for Mr. Depardieu, who can't be present for professional reasons, to be represented by his lawyer," he said.
    The "Jean de Florette" and "Green Card" actor could face a maximum sentence of up to two years in jail and a 4,500 euro fine.
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