Coline Berry-Rojtman, February 11, 2021. -
Thomas SAMSON / AFP
“It was that or I die.
"Coline Berry-Rojtman explains, in an interview with France Info broadcast on Monday, the reasons which led her to file a complaint for" rape and sexual assault "against her father, actor Richard Berry, nearly forty years after the facts.
"Reading Camille Kouchner's book", at the origin of the Duhamel affair and a free speech in France on incest, and "the reaction of my father, in front of me: that was the “alignment, the addition”, underlines the eldest daughter of the actor, heard last Thursday by the police of the brigade of protection of minors.
“I felt it physically, that is to say that it was that or I die, in fact,” she adds.
Facts that date back to the 1980s
“It was vital.
Maybe, yes, it will hurt him.
Even though I believe that I bring reparation in the family, and for future generations ”.
Coline Berry-Rojtman, born of the union of Richard Berry and actress Catherine Hiegel, filed a complaint at the end of January for "rape and sexual assault on a 15-year-old minor by ascendant" and "corruption of a minor".
The same day, the Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation to examine the veracity of the accusations against his father, which date back to 1984-1985.
Richard Berry denied "with all (his) strength and without ambiguity these filthy accusations" and assured to have "never had inappropriate or incestuous relations with Coline, nor with any of the children".
"Exchanges" with his father
"I need the recognition of the facts" despite a possible prescription, explains Coline Berry-Rojtman.
“We had discussions.
Either he minimizes (the facts), considering them as anecdotal.
Either he considers that it is the fault of Jeane Manson (the ex-partner of his father), whose sexual freedom he would have suffered.
Or else I am called crazy, ”she adds.
"This denial is yet another destruction that comes on top of the tear that I have been living for all these years."
For Coline Berry-Rojtman, "the negative side effects", in particular the exposure of her family and her children, "are less important than the benefit that I think will be at the end of this process".
“It might be very candid, but I'm calm and it calmed me down.
I am completely relieved, ”she concludes.
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