K.J. Yossman “Crash” director Paul Haggis has made yet another court appearance in Italy, where he is currently under house arrest in a hotel after being charged with sexual assault.Both Haggis and his alleged victim, understood to be a British woman in her 30s, attended the courthouse in the Southern port city of Brindisi accompanied by their lawyers for the special evidence pre-trial hearing.
They were due to submit to cross-examination before investigating judge Vilma Gilli, who would then decide the next steps in the legal proceedings.
According to Italian news agency ANSA, it was the first time accused and accuser came face to face since the alleged assault on June 15.Haggis, who won two Oscars for “Crash” and is also known for writing “Million Dollar Baby,” was arrested on June 19 after the alleged victim told police the director had engaged in non-consensual sex with her twice.
He has since appeared in court twice, with a judge ordering him to stay under house arrest in a nearby hotel. Haggis originally came to Italy to attend the Allora Fest film festival, which he was involved in organizing and where he was due to hold a number of masterclasses, when the anonymous complainant flew in to join him.
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