Saad Lamjarred trial for rape charges begins in Paris

Moroccan singer Saad Lamjarred began his trial on Monday in Paris for allegedly beating and raping a young woman in a hotel room in 2016.

Lamjarred appeared in front of the Criminal Court in Paris, dressed in a black uniform and a white shirt, alongside a translator, while the plaintiff, Laura B., sat on a bench across from him and cried upon seeing the singer, French news agency AFP reports.

Lamjarred introduced himself to the court as an “artist,” as the plaintiff turned her gaze towards the ground.

Lamjarred’s trial in Paris is scheduled to continue until Friday.

The incident occurred in October 2016 when Laura, then 20 years old, followed Lamjarred and two of his friends to a night out after meeting them in a nightclub.

After consuming a large amount of alcohol and cocaine, Laura accompanied Lamjarred to his hotel on the Champs-Elysées, where they drank champagne, danced, and kissed.

However, when Lamjarred tried to approach her, Laura moved away, according to her account to the investigators. Lamjarred then allegedly grabbed her by the hair, sexually assaulted her, and punched her when she tried to stop him.

The hotel staff reported that a young woman wearing a torn shirt had come to them “crying and feeling terrified,” and that they had stopped a drunk man who was chasing her.

One of the security personnel claimed that Lamjarred said at the time, “There is no evidence.”

Lamjarred was subsequently imprisoned, then released in April 2017 and forced to wear an electronic bracelet to monitor his movements.

In 2018, he was imprisoned again for a short period after being accused of raping another young woman in the French city of Saint-Tropez.