Achraf Hakimi’s legal case has moved a decisive step closer to trial after France’s highest court rejected his appeal against being sent before the criminal court in Hauts-de-Seine.
The Court of Cassation confirmed on Wednesday that the Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco defender will face trial before the Hauts-de-Seine departmental criminal court on a rape charge.
Hakimi had challenged the decision to refer the case for trial, but the appeal was not accepted for examination. The ruling clears the procedural path for the case to be heard by the criminal court.
Bertrand Périer, lawyer for the complainant before the Court of Cassation, said the court had dismissed Hakimi’s appeal because it found no serious legal argument capable of justifying its admission. He added that the decision followed the position taken by the reporting judge and the public prosecutor.
The date of the trial has not been announced.
