Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred, who is accused of raping a young woman in a hotel room on the sidelines of a concert planned for Paris in 2016, again strongly denied any sexual relationship in his final words at his trial.
Saad Lamjarred approached the bar of the Paris Assize Court with black fleece on his back. “Can I speak French?” asks the man, who has only spoken a mixture of Arabic and English since his trial opened on Monday.
“I have tried to express myself in this hearing, to tell you the truth from the bottom of my heart, because I have absolutely not done what I am accused of,” proclaims the famous pop star throughout the Arab world.
“I insist, Madam President,” adds the 37-year-old singer, his hands begging her to believe him. “I’ve never penetrated Laura P.”
“Thanks for listening,” he concludes, before sitting back down with his head bowed.
On the civil parties bench, Laura P., 27, kept her head averted, as she did every time Saad Lamjarred spoke during the trial.
The day before, the Advocate General had requested 7 years in prison and 5 years ban on French territory against the singer, believing that the rape was “well founded”.
The small audience room was almost empty for those last words, as the fifty curious and fans who had come were unable to return in time due to security checks at the door.
The court then retired to deliberate and Saad Lamjarred was taken to a guarded room in the Palace of Justice grounds. The verdict is expected in the afternoon.