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DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN is widely expected to go free today after prosecutors asked for the case against him to be dropped.
The 62-year-old former head of the IMF faced sexual assault charges after an alleged encounter with hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo, 33. Ms Diallo had said she was attacked as she cleaned Mr Strauss-Kahn’s suite in the Manhattan Sofitel in May. However, doubts about Ms Diallo’s credibility led prosecutors, led by New York District Attorney Cyrus Vance, to file papers yesterday asking for the charges to be dismissed.
The documents, published in full by the New York Times, state that there was forensic evidence of a “hurried sexual encounter” between Mr Strauss-Kahn and Ms Diallo, but not enough to “independently establish her claim of a forcible, nonconsensual encounter.”
Prosecutors said Ms Diallo had altered her story a number of times in the wake of the alleged assault, and also fabricated a story of being gang-raped by soldiers in her native Guinea.
A hearing is scheduled this morning, at which a judge is expected to accept the prosecution’s request and dismiss the case. Mr Strauss-Kahn would then be free to return to France, where he is still being mooted as a possible Socialist presidential candidate. His party colleague Francois Hollande told French radio yesterday: “Whatever has been said, a man with the abilities of Dominique Strauss-Kahn can be useful to his country in the months and years to come,” the Guardian reports.
Kenneth Thompson, a lawyer for Ms Diallo, yesterday hit out at prosecutors. According to Bloomberg, he told reporters: “Cyrus Vance has denied the right of a woman to get justice in a rape case. He has not only turned his back on this innocent victim, but he has also turned his back on the forensic, medical and other physical evidence in this case.”
However, there was also support for Mr Vance from some legal sources. New York lawyer Stuart Slotnick told the Guardian: “This is the same DA’s office that prosecutes people who rape prostitutes. Those are very difficult cases to bring.” He added: “A prosecutor should not prosecute a case that they don’t believe in.”
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Joe McHugh, this is an awesome idea. Awesome! I have no idea who you are or what your policies are, but I commend you on this one!
In next weeks news Fine Gael will be proposing that we adopt the UK’s head of state and use their parliament in order to save costs
Worked well the first time… ;)
Fine gael showing their true blue colours!!!!!!!
On the other hand – should , god forbid, we see a President Mitchell emerge – he has promised to only recognise and cooperate with 22 Counties of Ireland – he will probably have to do a geography lesson to find out where England , Scotland and Wales are too!
@Eddie Barrett, If he [President Mitchell] only willing to co-operate with 22 counties in Ireland, which other 4 in the Republic of Ireland is he leaving out? I think you may indeed be the one needing a geography lesson. Also, remember that this presidential race, is solely as a head of the Republic of Ireland, not the entire island. Northern Ireland is a separate jurisdiction, a constituent country of the United Kingdom.
@ Niall, it was Gay Mitchell himself, not Eddie, that stated there were 22 counties in the Republic of Ireland.
jesus h. why do you think sinn fein support reunification, its not just a lofty ideal, it makes serious economic sense. this FG proposal is a step down that road to unity.
Are you mental. The North is a huge financial blackhole that costs the British tax payer over a billion quid a year just to maintain a segregated state.
As far as I recall, it was our banks that “needed” exorbitant bailouts…
Common sense I reckon.
We are not the only country in Europe to have a boarder and to share services. We should draw on experiences elsewhere to see how best this can work. But let’s not pretend this is a unique situation.
Radiotherapy service being made available cross-border for Donegal soon. Good idea for the border counties, otherwise the rest of the country is covered medically
Wonder what the IFA would say about milk supply?
I think the north costs the uk 8 billion a year – we can’t shoulder that
no but you shoulder my and this nations hard earned cash to the fuckn banks to the tune over 70 billion ..,, .what a fuckn stupped comment saffron the north could teach this chicken state a lesson……Martin mc guinness for pres
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