A decide within the metropolis of Lecce, in southern Italy, dominated there was no purpose to proceed the investigation into allegations that Canadian Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis had intercourse with a younger girl with out her consent.
The courtroom dominated in favor of Haggis on Friday night, Italian information company ANSA reported on Saturday.
“After reviewing the proof and listening to arguments from each events, the Lecce District Court docket, a three-judge appeals courtroom, unanimously rejected the prosecutor’s attraction to reinstate home arrest. of Haggis,” Haggis’ Italian lawyer Michele Laforgia mentioned in an announcement. Saturday.
Haggis, who received two Oscars for ‘Crash’ and can also be recognized for writing ‘Million Greenback Child’, was arrested on June 19 in Ostuni, a location within the southern area of Puglia on the heel of Italy’s boot, on expenses of sexual assault allegedly inflicted on a 28-year-old Briton over the course of two days in June.
The 69-year-old director spent 16 days beneath home arrest in a resort, earlier than being launched from detention.
“Two weeks in the past, Choose Vilma Gilli of the Brindisi Court docket questioned the alleged sufferer, then instantly quashed Haggis’ home arrest,” Laforgia mentioned within the assertion.
The Brindisi prosecutor appealed his choice to the Lecce courtroom, the place Haggis’ lawyer introduced what he described as “irrefutable and goal proof that the lady advised a number of lies to investigators and the courtroom, with details and witnesses fully contradicting his story”. added the lawyer.
There was no speedy remark from the alleged sufferer’s authorized workforce.
Laforgia mentioned Haggis’ arrest was the results of a miscarriage of justice and, based mostly on the proof, prosecutors should now dismiss the case. This could occur within the coming weeks except new proof surfaces.
On Friday night, the Lecce courtroom contacted the legal professionals of each events to tell them of the courtroom’s choice, rejecting the prosecutor’s attraction and confirming the choice taken by Choose Gilli. 4 judges have now dominated in favor of Haggis.
“Within the coming weeks, the explanations for the choice will probably be recognized and, consequently, the destiny of the pending authorized proceedings in Italy,” Laforgia famous within the assertion.
Haggis can also be dealing with authorized motion in the US the place he’s being sued by film publicist Haleigh Breest, who alleges Haggis raped her in January 2013. Breest initially filed the lawsuit in December 2017, though the proceedings has been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A trial date has now been set for October 11 in Manhattan. Haggis says the assembly with Breest, which might have taken place after a premiere, was consensual.
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