Dominique Strauss-Kahn lawyers attack rape accuser’s credibility

Former IMF chief’s defence team says it has information that could ‘gravely undermine’ hotel maid’s account Lawyers for the former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn say they have information that could “gravely undermine the credibility” of the hotel maid who has accused him of trying to rape her. In a letter to Manhattan prosecutors, Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers William Taylor and Ben Brafman complained about New York police leaking information on the case to the media and asserted his right to a fair trial. “Indeed, were we intent on improperly feeding the media frenzy we could now release substantial information that in our view would seriously undermine the quality of this prosecution and also gravely undermine the credibility of the complainant in this case,” Taylor and Brafman wrote. “We are requesting that you use whatever resources are appropriate to stop further leaking immediately,” they said in the letter, dated 25 May and addressed to Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan district attorney. The prosecutor, John McConnell, has said evidence against the French national is “substantial and is continuing to grow every day”. He said the 32-year-old immigrant from Guinea who accused Strauss-Kahn of trying to rape her on 14 May had told a “compelling and unwavering story”. Strauss-Kahn is under house arrest in a luxury New York townhouse. He has denied charges of a criminal sexual act, attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching. If convicted he faces up to 25 years in prison. Strauss-Kahn resigned as managing director of the International Monetary Fund after his arrest. He is due to appear in court again on 6 June. Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers said in the letter that they were concerned “our client’s right to a fair trial is being compromised by the public disclosure of prejudicial material even before these materials have been disclosed to his counsel”. As an example the lawyers referred to media reports that tests had confirmed Strauss-Kahn’s DNA was found on the hotel maid’s clothing. Dominique Strauss-Kahn IMF United States France guardian.co.uk

Posted by on May 26, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.