Prosecutors in Paris under scrutiny as accused domestic violence perpetrator, Stéphane Plaza, alleges fixed trial proceedings
Stephane Plaza vehemently proclaims his innocence amidst allegations of domestic violence. On June 5, his legal team accused the Paris prosecutor's office of manipulating the case, allegedly engineering his conviction, and announced they'd sue the state for gross negligence. This verdict sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended, for repeated acts of violence against an ex-partner, a decision he's appealed.
At a press conference, Plaza accused the Paris prosecutor's office of deliberately through crafty machinations aiming to deceive the court to secure his conviction. "I'll fight relentlessly to expose the truth," he declared. His lawyers also announced a lawsuit against the state for what they described as serious dysfunctions in the justice system in this particular case. The prosecutor's office remained silent when contacted by AFP.
The controversy revolves around the dismissal of a cyberharassment complaint Plaza filed in June 2023 against three former partners, just prior to his domestic violence trial, where he was judged for abusive acts towards two ex-partners, Amandine and Paola. This cyberharassment case was dismissed, allegedly because the investigation failed to identify the perpetrators.
One of Plaza's lawyers countered this point, stating "That's a lie, the main author of the cyberharassment is identified in the Instagram request, acknowledges it in the minutes, and the officers' summary report acknowledges she was identified."
The investigators' report, presented by the defense, explains that Paola confessed during a free hearing that she had used fake profiles on Instagram for one purpose—prevention. She warned women in relationships with Plaza about his infidelities, his transmission of sexually transmitted infections, and his acts of violence.
The prosecutor's office presented a certificate stating there was no link between Plaza's accusers and the cyberharassment, a move his lawyers deemed a "public falsehood." This certificate was used in the trial and the court allegedly took it into account, potentially disrupting the integrity of a criminal trial.
Paola's lawyer, Clotilde Lepetit, countered that "The cyberharassment accusations against my client have been dismissed. Even if they hadn't, they are not related to the characterization of domestic violence commitments made well in advance." She went on to critique Plaza and his lawyers, suggesting that their methods constituted further violence against the victims and a disregard for the law.
Despite the ongoing controversy, specific details regarding the allegations of cyberharassment and manipulation of evidence in Plaza's case remain unverified. Consult legal documents or official statements related to the case to find accurate and up-to-date information.
"Police investigation into the cyberharassment allegations against Stephane Plaza seems questionable, with his lawyers claiming the main perpetrator was identified but the case was dismissed," one reporter might write.
"In the midst of the controversy surrounding his conviction for domestic violence, Plaza's lawyers are also accusing the prosecutor's office of faking a certificate to link his accusers with cyberharassment, calling it a 'public falsehood' that could have affected the trial's integrity," another journalist could state.
