Oscar-winning Canadian director Paul
Haggis is confident he will be cleared after he was detained in
southern Italy on Sunday over an accusation he sexually
assaulted a woman, his lawyer said following a hearing on
Wednesday.
Lawyer Michele Laforgia said the sexual relations he had with
the woman were consensual.
"(There is) total cooperation and confidence about the outcome
of the investigation," Laforgia said after a hearing before a
preliminary investigations judge, who will decide whether Haggis
must stay under house arrest at a hotel in the town of Ostuni.
"Haggis answered all the questions that the judge, the
prosecutor and the defence asked.
"Mr Haggis said that he wanted to remain in Italy until his
total innocence is established.
"Paul Haggis explained how things went. He said he was totally
innocent, as he had done immediately after being detained.
"The relations he had with this woman over the three days spent
together in Ostuni were totally consensual".
The director came to Italy to take part in this week's "Allora
Fest" film festival in Ostuni.
In a separate case, in 2018 a woman accused Haggis of raping her
in 2013 and he is facing a civil lawsuit over these allegations.
Three other women subsequently made sexual-misconduct
allegations against Haggis.
Haggis won Academy Awards for best screenplay and best picture
at the 2006 Oscars with Crash.
He also wrote the screenplay for another Oscar-wining film,
Million Dollar Baby.
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