A Vaudois actor faces justice this Monday for eleven sexual offenses on minors and rape. Former RTS programs columnist and former participant in the Montreux Comedy Festival, the defendant is now 34 years old. The facts relate to young people aged 14 to 18, mostly students of their improvisation lessons.
The hearing opened at the Vevey district court with the hearing of the accused and the alleged victims, for acts between 2009 and 2020. Eight of the complainants were minors at the time of the events.
At the time, the accused was in their twenties. Active actor, he intervened as a coach in several improvisation leagues. The alleged victims were most often his students, aspiring to become actors.
Victims under control
The facts would have taken place during private evenings, often watered, during which the accused organized sexual games. These moments have given rise to forced kisses, unconted touching and acts described with details very raw by the alleged victims.
According to the public prosecutor, the man has established a report of dependence. He was then considered an essential figure to make a place in the improvisation world.
“I admired him, he was impressive and charismatic. I wanted to please him, but shame must change camps,” said an alleged victim. Another victim described a “manipulator, toxic” man, who pushed him to have “black ideas”.
A under tension room
The defendant spoke of “love acts”. The president of the court then stealed a vocabulary too “blue flower”. On several occasions, the accused has confused the facts alleged against him and the names of the alleged victims, while the procedures described agree in the indictment.
Aware of the age of the alleged victims, he explained that he had a need to be loved. He apologized in a crowded courtroom, where around thirty people were present to support witnesses.
Early in the morning, the atmosphere was already heavy, with messages like “fire to the patriarchy” registered in chalk in court.
The slowness of justice is pointed out: complaints were filed in 2017, but several facts are prescribed today. The accused remains presumed innocent. The hearing must continue until Tuesday.
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