Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
National

Paris cops accused of raping Canadian woman will face trial

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Sep, 2017 12:34 PM

    A Canadian woman who says she was raped by two Paris police officers inside the force's headquarters three years ago is relieved that the case will go to trial, her lawyer said Friday.

    A French appeal court has overturned last year's decision by a lower court to dismiss the charges against the officers, whose names have not been released, Howard Rubel said.

    The ruling has brought some satisfaction to his client, Emily Spanton, who has agreed to be identified, Rubel said.

    "Most of the rules that we've developed in Canada about fair trial relating to sexual assault complainants are not in force in France," he said.

    "She had to agree to subject herself to a psychological assessment, she had to provide a history, a sexual history of her previous relationships," as well as character references, he said.

    "She has put up with a tremendous amount of invasion of privacy in order to ensure the matter goes forward so she's very relieved that that wasn't all for nothing."

    Spanton, the daughter of a former Toronto police detective, was visiting Paris in April 2014 when she met the officers at an Irish pub, he said.

    The officers offered to give her a tour of the police headquarters, a building famous for its architecture, the lawyer said.

    When she left the building later, Spanton approached another officer and reported that she had been raped, Rubel said.

    French media report the officers have denied the allegations, with one officer saying there was consensual sex and one admitting only to "consensual touching."

    The lower court had dismissed the case on grounds that there was not enough evidence to prosecute, Rubel said.

    But the appeal court unanimously disagreed with that finding and ordered a trial, which is scheduled to take place next year, he said, adding that much of the evidence is under a publication ban.

    "A court will finally get to rule on all of the evidence and make a decision as to what happened and (Spanton) is very pleased that she will have that opportunity to confront them," he said.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    NRIs Who Harass, Desert Their Wives May Get Their Passports Cancelled

    NRIs Who Harass, Desert Their Wives May Get Their Passports Cancelled
    External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi have taken up the cause of Indian wives deserted by NRI men.

    NRIs Who Harass, Desert Their Wives May Get Their Passports Cancelled

    Crews Hope To Recover Body Of Man Killed After Fall Into Crevasse Near Whistler

    Crews Hope To Recover Body Of Man Killed After Fall Into Crevasse Near Whistler
    WHISTLER, B.C. — RCMP in Whistler, B.C., say efforts will continue Monday to recover the body of a man who died while on a day hike near the resort municipality.

    Crews Hope To Recover Body Of Man Killed After Fall Into Crevasse Near Whistler

    India becomes fastest growing market for Brand USA, too

    India becomes fastest growing market for Brand USA, too
    The Indian outbound traveller is now a much-coveted commodity around the world, as the country's booming middle class seeks new destinations and emerges as a key market.

    India becomes fastest growing market for Brand USA, too

    Victim Laughed At Shooter Before Being Shot Inside Busy Toronto Restaurant

    Victim Laughed At Shooter Before Being Shot Inside Busy Toronto Restaurant
    TORONTO — A Toronto restaurant owner says a man who was fatally shot at his establishment over the weekend laughed at his attacker immediately before bullets were fired.

    Victim Laughed At Shooter Before Being Shot Inside Busy Toronto Restaurant

    PM Trudeau Says He Sent A Letter To Aung San Suu Kyi On Violence Against Rohingya Muslims

    PM Trudeau Says He Sent A Letter To Aung San Suu Kyi On Violence Against Rohingya Muslims
    OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has once again reached out to Aung San Suu Kyi about the atrocities being committed against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

    PM Trudeau Says He Sent A Letter To Aung San Suu Kyi On Violence Against Rohingya Muslims

    Sirsa Dera Violence: Honeypreet Tops Police's Most Wanted List

    Sirsa Dera Violence: Honeypreet Tops Police's Most Wanted List
    The Haryana Police on Monday released a list of the most wanted people for the violence by Dera Sacha Sauda sect followers last month. Sect Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's close aide Honeypreet Kaur tops the list.

    Sirsa Dera Violence: Honeypreet Tops Police's Most Wanted List