Decide in Italy weighs if Paul Haggis goes free in intercourse abuse probe

BRINDISI, Italy — A decide in southern Italy on Wednesday was weighing whether or not Academy Award-winning movie director Paul Haggis ought to go free whereas Italian prosecutors examine a lady’s allegations that he had intercourse along with her over two days with out her consent.

Haggis’ lawyer, Michele Laforgia, mentioned after the listening to Wednesday in Brindisi courthouse that his consumer reiterated his whole innocence and is in “hopeful expectation” that he can be in the end vindicated.

Decide Vilma Giil was anticipated to concern her resolution later Wednesday.

“Paul Haggis answered all questions and defined what occurred,” Laforgia informed reporters outdoors the courthouse. “He declared himself, as he had already finished proper after the detention, fully harmless, within the sense that the intercourse he had with this girl was completely consensual.”

Whereas the girl’s allegations are investigated, the 69-year-old Canadian-born director, producer and screenwriter was ordered on Sunday to remain detained in his visitor residence in a farmhouse in Ostuni, a preferred vacationer city in Puglia, the area forming the “heel” of the Italian peninsula.

Prosecutors have mentioned he’s beneath investigation for alleged aggravated sexual violence and aggravated private accidents.

They didn’t instantly remark after the listening to, which lasted a number of hours.

Prosecutors have described the girl as younger and overseas. State TV and different Italian media mentioned she is a 30-year-old Englishwoman who had identified Haggis earlier than he got here to Ostuni to take part in an arts competition that started this week.

Requested by a reporter what sort of relationship Haggis and the girl had, Laforgia replied that the 2 had had a “relationship of acquaintance.”

The lawyer mentioned the protection disputes a hospital report indicating that the girl had suffered bodily accidents.

“There isn’t any signal of harm nor signal of violence,” Laforgia asserted, including, “I imagine that they (the investigators) badly interpreted the findings of the emergency room” of a Brindisi hospital, the place the girl was taken after she informed authorities that she had been sexually abused.

Haggis co-wrote, directed and produced “Crash,” which received the 2006 Academy Awards for greatest image and greatest screenplay. He additionally wrote the screenplay for “Million Greenback Child,” one other Oscar winner.

He has had authorized issues lately stemming from sexual misconduct accusations by 4 girls in america.

On Sunday, shortly after Italian prosecutors introduced the investigation and detention of Haggis, he U.S.-based legal professional, Priya Chaudhry, informed The Related Press that though she couldn’t talk about the proof beneath Italian regulation, “I’m assured that each one allegations can be dismissed in opposition to Mr. Haggis. He’s completely harmless, and prepared to completely cooperate with the authorities so the reality comes out shortly.”

As a result of Haggis doesn’t converse Italian, he submitted written statements in English to the court docket all through the listening to. Translations back-and-forth lengthened the length of the listening to, Laforgia mentioned.