Gerard Depardieu fails to attend court on drink-drive charge
The French actor Gerald Depardieu failed to attend a court in Paris on a drink-driving charge, as he is preparing for a film role in Montenegro, his lawyer has said
Speaking outside the Paris courtroom, Eric de Caumont said: "Despite wanting to be there and meet the judges and in no way to escape justice, Gerard Depardieu absolutely could not be present.
He said his client was in Montenegro preparing to play Strauss-Kahn, who was seen as the next Socialist president of France before a US sex scandal bought down his career last year.
In November, he was arrested after riding a scooter while three times over the alcohol limit.
Today's no-show means the case will turn into a full trial and could also lead to 64-year-old star of "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Asterix and Obelix" getting a tougher sentence if convicted.
Read: Depardieu arrives at Ballon d'Or gala with Blatter
Read: Gerard Depardieu under fire for fleeing French tax rate.
Picture: Gerard Depardieu meets Vladimir Putin in Sochi.
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