Much of the French ado over US media coverage of Strauss-Kahn has focused on the infamous “perp walk.” In the US, it is standard procedure for police to walk a suspect out in handcuffs in front of photographers, as it did with Strauss-Kahn.
In France, showing images of a suspect in handcuffs has been illegal since 2000, based on the belief that doing so undermines a person’s presumption of innocence. There are also no cameras in the courtrooms. France’s broadcasting watchdog agency, the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA), warned television stations against showing footage of Strauss-Kahn in handcuffs unless he is convicted. According to The Wall Street Journal, a media outlet can be fined as much as $21,300 for displaying those images.
Recalling his experience with the client to TIME, Pierrat says he told the young woman that he believed she had a case. "There were sufficient elements for a legal complaint to be filed and for a judicial investigation into them to be granted," he says. But in the end, the woman chose not to go ahead. Pierrat explains that it was "because she knew there'd be a lot of public and media attention, knew she'd come under pressure, be cast as a liar, a woman who was looking for trouble, get tagged as the villain who took down Dominique Strauss-Kahn — or tried to. She knew there'd be a high price to pay for trying to do the right thing and knew she would probably be tarred for it."
"In addition to my client," says Pierrat, "I also have a personal friend who came to me and described an unwanted, forceful sexual advance by Strauss-Kahn that she was forced to literally fight off. They're all essentially the same account, the same kind of behavior, with only the places changed."
he visit by the official is standard practice when a French citizen is arrested in the U.S., Marie-Laure Charrier, the spokeswoman, said today in an interview. Strauss-Kahn is charged with sexual assault and attempted rape in an alleged attack on a maid at a Manhattan hotel. Benjamin Brafman, his lawyer, said he denies the charges and will plead not guilty.
Philippe Lalliot, the consul general, went to see Strauss- Kahn to make sure he’s being “correctly treated” and receiving proper food, clothes and medications, Charrier said.
The consul general hasn’t discussed any legal issues surrounding Strauss-Kahn’s arrest or imprisonment, nor offered help regarding bail, Charrier said.
No comments:
Post a Comment