Rape acquittal appeal

The verdict of not-guilty was handed down on Thursday 15th December. Now, round two is on the cards. The Aix-en-Provence public prosecutor says his department will be appealing against the aquittal in the trial of four policemen accused of instigating the attack on a young girl on the Promenade des Anglais in February 2010.

The officers deny the woman's claims that she felt “forced” to perform sexual acts with the men.

The Advocate General Eric Camous has asked for at least ten years in prison for the patrol leader and eight years against his two colleagues.

The case is expected to be heard again sometime in 2012.

Louise Kirby