A court in Paris on Tuesday found French actor Gerard Depardieu guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021 and handed him an 18-month suspended prison sentence. - REUTERS
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00:00French movie icon Gérard Depardieu was convicted of sexually assaulting two women on a film set in 2021.
00:09A Paris court handed him an 18-month suspended prison sentence on Tuesday.
00:14It's one of the highest profile hashtag MeToo cases to come before judges in France.
00:19Depardieu did not attend the sentencing, but his lawyer said the actor will appeal the court's decision.
00:25Plaintiff Amélie Kaye, who is a set decorator, showed up at Tuesday's sentencing.
00:31She said the actor had groped her all over her body as he trapped her between his legs and made explicit sexual comments.
00:38She told the court that she was, quote, terrified, while Depardieu was, quote, laughing.
00:42The film star had repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
00:46However, Judge Thierry Donat said his explanation of events had been unconvincing.
00:51Outside the court, Amélie Kaye said justice has been done.
00:56I have thought a lot about those young women, more vulnerable.
01:01Well, no, not more vulnerable because I am vulnerable myself too.
01:05But I have thought a lot about certain young women who told me,
01:09my God, how can you bear this, and that he has been punished.
01:12Really, for me, it's very important, very, very clearly.
01:16The presiding judge said two witnesses corroborated Amélie Kaye's account,
01:21whilst Depardieu had been contradictory in his own accounts.