Strauss-Kahn pleads not guilty in rape case

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Published time: June 06, 2011 13:43
Edited time: June 06, 2011 20:32

UNITED STATES, New York : Former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn (L) and his wife Anne Sinclair (R) arrive for a hearing at Manhattan State Supreme Court June 6, 2011 in New York. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA

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Crime, Sex, USA

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has pleaded not guilty to all charges in a New York court on Monday. The former head of the IMF is charged with sex-related crimes against a Manhattan hotel maid.

The former IMF head arrived in court together with his defense team and his wife, journalist Anne Sinclair.

The banker has been indicted on five counts of crimes related to sexual violence plus unlawful detention.

Strauss-Kahn was appearing in Manhattan court for the first time since his release on $6 million bail last month. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.

His defense is expected to try and convince the jury that the episode in question was consensual sex rather than attempted rape. Speaking to journalists outside the court, Strauss-Kahn's lawyer Ben Brafman said he was sure that by the end of the case "it will be clear that there was no element of forcible compulsion in this case whatsoever."

The maid's attorney Kenneth Thompson was, however, confident the case will turn out badly for the former IMF head:

"The victim wants you to know that all of Dominique Strauss-Kahn's power, money and influence throughout the world will not keep the truth about what he did to her in that hotel room from coming out," he said.

The next court date has been set for 18 July.

Strauss-Kahn was arrested on May 14, after a maid at New York’s Sofitel Hotel reported that he had sexually assaulted her.

The 62-year-old Frenchman resigned from his position as the managing director of the International Monetary Fund soon after his arrest.

Comments (3)

Babcia 02.03.2012 11:05

They have two ciechos.One is to prosecute and lose. The other is to let him go and say I'm sorry. If they prosecute and lose which is probable, they waste a lot of time and money. If they let him go they are embarrassed. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. Also remember they put an innocent man, the head of the International Monetary Fund no less, on Ryker's Island, destroyed his reputation and made him lose his job. It has cost him millions of dollars. He might sue for damages. Somebody is going to resign over this, I guarantee it.But the further problem is that this could have international implications. Say he gets released and becomes president of France. How will he deal with the US? How will the US deal with him?

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PR101 06.06.2011 18:42

“His defense is expected to try and convince the jury that the episode in question was consensual sex rather than attempted rape.” So sexual activities did take place. This is step one. Second, based on the camera video the woman was in the room with Mr. Strauss Kahn for 25 Minutes. Third, there is no evidence she and he ever met before. So how is the former head of IMF is going to show this was a consensual sex? Fourth, would France now accept the fact this man had a problem of keeping in thing under control inside his trousers? Now we now he did then went on without showering to have a launch with his daughter and then went to fly out. We know this because he left the room in hurry two minutes after his alleged victim left the room in a state of panic shock. He is dirty man inside and outside. How that he admitted sex did take place some well placed politicians who went on record to say this man was too proud to have sex with some lowly chambermaid that he must have framed should reconsider their own sexist views. The fact of the matter this woman came out in part because she had strong union support. We can speculate if this indeed the first time Mr. Strauss-Kahn to quick “take out” in this way!

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joseph walker 06.06.2011 14:51

Well he is hoping the jury are all grovelling peasants like our broadcasters and media in Europe.If left to our pile of shit in Europe and britain,nobody would have been aware of his alleged sex attack.Our grovelling white peasants in the media and broadcasting in Europe, are employed to serve the interest of they ruling privileged masters.Well can't be help some of our media and broadcasters in Europe and Britain are still shackled to their peasant ancestry.

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