Woman 'was raped at least seven times during attack by two French rugby stars and repeatedly tried to escape "fierce violence" that left her with bite marks and injuries to her breasts', her lawyer claims
- Hugo Auradou, 20, and Oscar Jegou, 21, were arrested in Buenos Aires this week
A woman was allegedly raped at least seven times during an attack in a hotel by two French international rugby stars, her lawyer has claimed.
The 39-year-old Argentinian woman was left with bite marks and injuries to her breasts in the attack in a hotel room in the city of Mendoza, Argentina, according to her lawyer Natacha Romano.
French international rugby players Hugo Auradou, 20, and Oscar Jegou, 21, were arrested on rape and assault charges in Buenos Aires on Monday.
They have denied the accusation, and say sexual relations with the woman were consensual. The players were transferred from Interpol's Buenos Aires headquarters to Mendoza on Thursday, where they are expected to be formally charged today.
Romano said her client was hospitalised on Thursday after feeling ill emotionally and physically 'because of everything that happened.'
She said earlier that the woman had suffered 'fierce' violence at the hands of her assailants in a hotel room, with injuries to her face, back, breasts, legs and ribs as well as various bite and scratch marks.
French international rugby players Hugo Auradou (pictured), 20, and Oscar Jegou, 21, were arrested on rape and assault charges in Buenos Aires on Monday
Oscar Jegou was also arrested on Monday after the woman said she was raped by him and Auradou 'several times' and severely beaten
Police escort French rugby player Hugo Auradou, centre, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, July 11, 2024
French national rugby player Oscar Jegou (right) is escorted by Argentinian Federal Police, as he leaves the Interpol headquarters in Buenos Aires for the city of Mendoza, prior to an experts' report in the case of rape, on July 11, 2024
The alleged victim claims to have been raped 'at least six times' by one of the men and once by the other, according to the lawyer. She allegedly tried to escape several times.
Psychologist Nicolas Yungman, who was not treating the woman, told local media that her symptoms, as described, could be indicative of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The woman will receive treatment at a health facility for 24 to 48 hours, Romano said on Thursday.
Auradou and Jegou spent last night at a police detention unit and be brought before prosecutor Cecilia Bignert at 9am local time (12pm GMT) on Friday, Martin Ahumada, a spokesman for the Mendoza prosecutor's office said.
Upon being charged, the pair could be ordered to be held until a hearing 10 days later to determine whether they will have to await trial in custody.
Within the 10 days, the pair could bring an application to be released on probation or under house arrest, according to Ahumada.
The sentence for sexual assault in Argentina ranges from six to 15 years, according to the penal code. The penalty can increase to 20 years in the case of two aggressors.
The accusations, which have left French rugby reeling and dominated news headlines in Argentina, came during a tour of South America by the French national squad.
The alleged attack took place Saturday night at the Diplomatic Hotel in Mendoza, where France's players and staff were staying after beating Argentina in a test match.
Romano said the woman had gone with one of the men from a nightclub to a hotel room, where she alleges she was held against her will and abused for several hours.
'The violence was fierce,' said Romano. 'There is more than one crime to investigate.'
The alleged attack took place on Saturday night at the Diplomatic Hotel in Mendoza (pictured above), where France's players and staff were staying after beating Argentina in a test match
Police escort French rugby players Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou inside a police headquarters as they arrive in Mendoza, Argentina, Thursday, July 11, 2024
Police escort French rugby players Oscar Jegou, left, and Hugo Auradou, right, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, July 11, 2024
The 39-year-old woman was left with bite marks and injuries to her breasts in the attack in a hotel room in the city of Mendoza, Buenos Aires, according to her lawyer Natacha Romano (pictured)
French national rugby player Hugo Auradou (bottom 2nd-lefty) and French national rugby player Oscar Jegou (top 2nd-right) are escorted by Argentinian Federal Police as they arrive at the Transitory Station for Detained and Apprehended Persons in Mendoza, Argentina, on July 11, 2024
Lawyer Rafael Cuneo Libarona, who represents the players, arrived in Mendoza on Wednesday and said 'sexual relations' had been 'consensual.'
'There are witnesses who saw her leave (the hotel), 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.
Romano said 'the overwhelming proof that there was no consent is the victim's body' and the wounds she bears.
If the men are charged, the lawyer added, she would ask the court to remand them in pre-trial custody.
The charge, said Romano, should be rape with use of violence.
French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Florian Grill, who is in Argentina, said the players have 'a quite different version' of events to that of the woman, with 'a lot of inconsistencies.'
'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.
Aradou and Jegou have been replaced by lock Mickael Guillard and flanker Judicael Cancoriet for Saturday's second test match against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
