Other actors and technicians on the set spoke about the unhealthy atmosphere at Mediapart.
A summary of the charges, cited by French media, said that Ruggio and Hanel continued to see each other every Saturday after filming “The Babies” had finished, “under the guise of film lessons,” during which Ruggio allegedly touched her sexually and put his hands in her underwear.
Investigators said they found notes on Ruggia’s computer in which he wrote about 12-year-old Haenel’s “excessive sensuality.”
When she eventually broke up with him, he continued to write her numerous letters, according to the indictment. She later sank into a deep depression that lasted until she was 28, she said.
“When I was under his thumb, I felt dirty and wanted to die,” Haenel told investigators.
Ruggia admitted he had made “mistakes” in his behavior towards Haenel.
“I didn’t see that my affection for her and the hopes I placed on her could – given her young age – seem annoying at times. If that’s what happened… I apologize to her,” he said in a statement in 2019.
At the trial, prosecutor Camila Poch said she had “no doubt” the allegations were true and said Ruggia’s defense was “unlikely”. “He made the choice to sexually assault her. He had all the conscience, as an adult, to decide to act differently.”
Guenel was the first famous French actor to accuse the French film industry of turning a blind eye to sexual violence.
Since then, the actor Gerard Depardieu was accused of rape and is due to stand trial next year. There were also film directors Benoit Jacot and Jacques Duillon accused of rape and sexual crimes actress Judith Godrech.
Hanel’s lawyers asked for 30,000 euros (£24,800) in moral damages and 31,000 euros to pay for the work of her psychologists.
The verdict is expected on February 3.
