Judge drops sex charges against Strauss-Kahn

Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss Kahn has appeared in court again in court in Manhattan where as expected a judge has thrown out the sexual assault case against him.

 

Earlier Michael Obus rejected a request by the alleged victim’s lawyers to appoint a special prosecutor, after those in the District Attorney’s office asked the judge to dismiss the charges.

 

On Monday the prosecutors say that 32-year-old Nafissatou Diallo is no longer a credible witness.  

 

So the man once seen as a leading French presidential contender will be free to return to France, although he still faces a civil lawsuit from his accuser.

 

There have been protests outside the court at the move to drop the criminal case. Women’s groups in particular believe there was enough evidence to put Strauss Kahn on trial. 

 

Diallo is said to have given three different versions of the alleged attack, as well as having lied over her claim for asylum.

 

Prosecutors said they did not think a jury would believe her story “beyond reasonable doubt”.

 

Diallo’s lawyers have accused the District Attorney of failing to see that justice is done, three months after Strauss-Kahn was arrested and accused of attacking the African immigrant. - (euronews)