Thursday, October 13, 2011

Dominique Strauss-Kahn Cleared of Attempted Rape Charges in France

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Paris prosecutors on Thursday dropped all attempted rape charges against Dominique Strauss Kahn – but said he had "sexually assaulted" his alleged victim.

The 62-year-old former International Monetary Fund chief had been accused by French writer Tristane Banon of attacking her in a flat in the French capital in 2003. She claimed he had acted like a "rutting chimpanzee".

Following a three[-]month inquiry, judges said the violence shown by Mr Strauss-Kahn happened such a long time ago that a criminal case could not be launched.

While the statute of limitations for attempted rape is 10 years in France, it is only three years for sexual assault. » | Peter Allen in Paris | Thursday, October 13, 2011