French movie star Gérard Depardieu has been summoned to trial before a criminal court in Paris on allegations of rape and sexual assault brought by actor Charlotte Arnould, French and U.S. news outlets reported Tuesday.
Arnould said she felt "relieved" after receiving an investigating judge's indictment order, writing on Instagram that the decision "restores a form of judicial truth." She added, "The acts of rape and sexual assault have been acknowledged. Now, we await the next steps."
The case dates to 2018, when Paris prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation after Arnould accused Depardieu of raping her at his home. Prosecutors filed a request last year for the matter to proceed to trial, and an investigating judge has now issued the indictment order that moves the case forward to a criminal court.
Arnould's lawyer, Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, told Franceinfo she was "extremely satisfied" and described the judge's decision as a "moment of judicial truth in this case." She was not immediately available for additional comment, according to reports.
French authorities will now set a date for the trial before a Paris criminal court. The indictment order follows standard procedure in France, where an investigating judge evaluates whether there is sufficient evidence to send a case to trial.
Depardieu, one of France's best-known actors, has been the subject of other legal scrutiny in recent years. The current proceedings are separate from any prior matters and concern Arnould's allegations from 2018.
The move to bring the case to trial marks a significant step in a process that has unfolded over several years, from Arnould's initial public accusation to the prosecutorial request and the investigating judge's recent decision. Arnould's public statements after the indictment order emphasized the personal importance she attributed to the judicial recognition of the alleged acts.
Further details on the timing of the trial, potential defenses to be presented and any additional charges have not been released. Court officials and representatives for Depardieu did not immediately provide comment to the media following the announcement.