Moroccan Singer Saad Lamjarred’s Rape Trial Begins in Paris

At 37 years old, Lamjarred is accused of having raped a French woman in a luxury hotel on the Champs-Élysées in October 2016 while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.

If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison. The court’s verdict is expected on Friday.

20 years old at the time, Laura Prioul would have met Lamjarred in a Parisian nightclub and accompanied him to his hotel, according to the document summarizing the conclusions of the investigation that was read by the president in court.

She claims to have been beaten several times as she tried to push him away before being raped. The hotel staff, on the other hand, support that they saw her leave the hotel room in tears and clearly in distress.

Here is the arrival of the Moroccan singer at the courthouse this morning, with his wife, Ghita El Allaki.