Natacha Romano, the lawyer of an Argentine woman who has accused two French international rugby players of rape, speaks during an interview with AFP in Mendoza, Argentina, on July 10, 2024. – Romano said her client was savagely beaten and locked in a hotel room during an incident that the men claimed was consensual.
The men were arrested in Buenos Aires on Monday, two days after a Test match against Argentina, when investigators determined the alleged victim’s injuries were consistent with her account of rape. The alleged attack took place Saturday night at the Diplomatic Hotel in Mendoza, where France’s players and staff were staying for a Test match as part of a South American tour.“There are witnesses who saw her leave , there are cameras that saw her leave, apparently no injuries are seen in the footage,” Libarona — who is the brother of the country’s justice minister Mariano Cuneo Libarona — told journalists.
Mendoza prosecutor Daniela Chaler told LV10 radio on Tuesday there were “convincing elements” in the statement the woman made and that her injuries were compatible with her version of events, although they were not “necessarily exclusive” to sexual assault.The French Rugby Federation said the players have denied any coercion or violence, and stressed the importance of giving them an opportunity to make their case.
“We are not judges, we are not investigators, but we think that the Argentine justice system should look at the case very quickly,” he said.After the initial questioning in Mendoza, possibly this week, prosecutor Cecilia Bignert will have 24 hours to decide whether to charge the players. The deadline can be extended once by another 24 hours.If charged, a hearing will be held 10 days later to determine whether they will have to await trial in custody.