Versailles Appeal Court don reject Achraf Hakimi appeal against order to stand trial for rape. Di Moroccan PSG defender go appear before Hauts-de-Seine criminal court.
Di case start for 2023, when a young woman wey di footballer contact through Instagram before inviting her to im house, accuse am say he touch her breasts without consent before raping her.
“He behave like animal, no show any tenderness, he look desperate to have sex,” di woman tok during her hearing.
Di trial go happun for coming months, something wey Fanny Colin, Hakimi lawyer, no happy about. “Di court no consider di contradictions and lies of di complainant, her hiding from judicial authorities, her obstruction to truth, and even her psychological evaluations wey confirm her ambivalence and lack of clarity concerning di facts wey she report,” she tok.
Hakimi don write for im Twitter say: “Justice look me for eye and tell me: ‘If you no be famous, no case for here.’ I choose keep quiet for years. I think say to maintain dignity, be patient and trust justice go allow correct decisions.”
He continue say he dey wait for trial to give im own version, even though he appeal di decision to stop trial. “Today, story wey no be my own dey told for detriment of my family, my life, and most of all, di truth. I sometimes feel say I don become easy target. I don wait for this trial since first day. And now I dey wait with impatience. Finally I go fit talk,” di Moroccan defender tok.
Rachel-Flore Pardo, lawyer for di complainant, dey happy with court decision. “After more dan three years of legal battles, after being defamed and dragged through mud by Achraf Hakimi defense, this decision bring relief and hope to my client. Relief say she don hear from justice and she get right to trial. Hope say this trial go help other women and help break down fortress of denial and impunity wey surround sexual violence, even for men football world,” she tok.
