The Hugo Auradou – Oscar Jegou affair never ends. While the dismissal hearing was first postponed for a week from October 18 to 25, the Argentine courts should finally examine in nine days, on November 1, the request for dropping the charges filed by the lawyers rugby players indicted for aggravated rape in a meeting. The information of the postponement was first revealed by L’Équipe.
This provisional date, Friday November 1, was then confirmed by Dario Nora, the prosecutor in charge of the case. “The date is still subject to change,” warns the Mendoza Public Ministry. This umpteenth postponement is explained by a new appeal filed by the plaintiff’s camp.
This Wednesday, Natacha Romano, who represents the alleged victim, announced to us that she had appealed the decision of judge Eleonora Arenas to refuse the incorporation of new elements into the file. The prosecution is demanding the organization of additional testimonial statements and an ocular inspection of the Diplomatic Hotel, where the alleged events took place.
No dismissal, no XV of France
Free but still charged to this day, Pau second line Hugo Auradou and La Rochelle third line Oscar Jegou, both aged 21, have proclaimed their innocence since the start of this affair. They acknowledge a consensual sexual relationship with the alleged victim but categorically deny any form of violence. The facts with which they are accused took place on the night of July 6 to 7 in a hotel in Mendoza, after a test match won by the Blues against the Pumas (28-13).
If the case was dismissed – the most likely hypothesis today – the plaintiff’s lawyers would have three working days to appeal the decision to the Collegiate Criminal Court of Mendoza, formed by three judges. What Natacha Romano, who represents the alleged victim, will “obviously” do, as she has already confirmed to us. According to the Argentine Penal Code, a possible confirmation of the dismissal of the case on appeal would close “definitively and irrevocably” the judicial process and would mean, in the case of a total abandonment of the charges, “the dismissal of the case”. Or the absolute exoneration of the accused.
A lawyer for the plaintiff throws in the towel
Furthermore, there was a change in the plaintiff’s defense. According to our information, Mr. Mauricio Cardello stopped representing the plaintiff this Wednesday. Contacted, the lawyer confirmed the news but did not wish to provide details. A few days ago, the council displayed its pessimism to the AFP. “The die is cast (…) I think this will be dismissed, it’s only a question of time,” he declared in particular. “It’s a decision of the complainant’s family,” explained Natacha Romano, the other representative of the complainant, who also affirms that her colleague would be “affected” by his involvement in another current legal case.
As for the accused, Hugo Auradou has already found his way back to the Top 14 with Pau for three weeks now. But the French international is not part of Fabien Galthié’s list of 42, communicated this Wednesday for the autumn tour, due to lack of dismissal. “We waited for justice to take its course. She first released them in Argentina, then she released them in France. Now we are waiting for a possible dismissal. We have been very clear, they will not play again until the case is dismissed. To play again in the French team, they will also need to have adequate sporting performance,” warned the boss of the French Rugby Federation, Florian Grill, re-elected on October 19 for four years at the head of the institution.
