After being released from house arrest, Paul Haggis, the author of the James Bond series, denied a rape charge and insisted he made “two mistakes.”
Following the accusation from a British woman, prosecutors have filed an appeal against a court decision to grant the screenwriter bail, Mail Online can report.
The 29-year-old woman, who shall remain nameless for legal reasons, reported to police that Haggis, 69, had allegedly subjected her to a terrifying 48-hour ordeal. Haggis was then detained.
He was kept under house arrest for nearly two weeks before being released, but he has continued to live in Italy, the location of the alleged attack, to clear his name while the investigation is ongoing.
For the first time, Haggis addressed the allegations in-depth, telling the Italian newspaper La Repubblica: “I didn’t rape anyone, but I made two mistakes. My life was ruined in a matter of seconds.
“My first error was letting someone come and visit me,” the Canadian Haggis admitted. It was stupid.
The second error was that I decided to end this situation on the final morning after an incident that I personally found to be particularly unpleasant.
A few hours before her flight, I drove this person to the airport. I’m disappointed in myself for these mistakes in judgment, but I find it hard to understand how they led to untrue and damaging accusations against me.
Staff at Brindisi airport discovered the British woman, a graduate who lives in Kensington, West London, last month and reported her to police. Mail Online is aware of the woman’s identity.
Harris was held and questioned for several hours after she complained that she had been kept in a bed and breakfast before a local magistrate ordered her to be under house arrest.
Despite a subsequent court case in Manhattan in September regarding a different sexual assault claim made by his former publicist Haleigh Breest, which was overturned last week by a court, he will continue to reside in Italy for the time being.
Claudio Strata, the attorney for the British woman, told MailOnline: “I don’t know the specifics, but I can only assume the prosecutor and the police have found evidence that they feel justifies a court appeal against the decision to release Mr. Paul Haggis.
“At this time, we are unable to interfere; it is up to them to determine what to do, but we have complete confidence in the work of the police and the prosecution.”
‘It’s possible that fresh information they have uncovered provides the basis for an appeal.
But we’ll have to wait for the court’s ruling,
Regarding the Italian legal system, Haggis remarked, “There are some things that I cannot understand, like how it’s possible in your country (Italy) to start and continue a trial even when the accusation is not backed by concrete proof.”
“I find it weird and unfair that seemingly innocent people might be tried for years,” you might say. A trial in Italy might go on for years, according to my attorneys.
The harm that type of persecution could do to my family and my capacity to support them is something I can’t even begin to fathom.
Haggis said, “Throughout the two weeks of my house arrest, I was at ease since I knew I hadn’t broken any laws and because I have always believed in the legal system.
There were undoubtedly some challenging times, but I was able to get through them with the help of my family, friends, and my amazing lawyer and his staff as well as their love and support.
“It was upsetting to be accused of sexual assault, a major crime that I categorically did not commit. No innocent individual should have to go through that.
Being unable to share my pinnacle moment with my family and kids who had traveled to Italy to support me during the film festival was heartbreaking (he was due to attend last month).
After two weeks, my son received permission to visit me just as he was about to depart.
He sped up to me, gave me a bear hug, and advised me to remain strong. It’s something I’ll always remember.
Being with my daughter, her partner, and their two kids was wonderful.
Haggis co-authored the screenplays for the two Bond blockbusters Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. He also wrote Million Dollar Baby and won two Oscars for Crash in 2006.
He is currently being sued in a US court by Ms. Breest, who alleges that he sexually assaulted her in 2013.
Although she first filed the lawsuit in 2017, Covid caused the proceedings to be postponed until October.
Haggis maintains that the contact, which took place following a premier, was consensual and disavows any wrongdoing.
When asked if the US case and the ongoing inquiry meant that Haggis had a problem with women, he responded, “I work in theatre, television, and cinema for more than 40 years and I have literally dealt with hundreds of women.”
I’ve had two marriages. My family includes a son, three lovely daughters, and two sons who are married to outstanding women.
I have had wonderful connections and relationships with many different women.
In any nation in the world, none of them has ever reported me to the police or a prosecutor. I don’t have an issue with ladies, therefore no.
The Church of Scientology, of which he was a member until he left in 2009 and on which he later published a damning article for the New Yorker magazine as well as criticizing them in TV documentaries, was also brought up, and he was questioned if there might be a connection.
I don’t have any proof, stated Haggis. However, I know that Scientology is capable of anything based on what I’ve learnt about it.
They will take all action necessary to ruin your reputation, career, and family if you come out against them.
It would take too much time to describe, but I have gradually come to realize that Scientology is in fact a highly corrupt organization.
Maybe I should have seen this much earlier, but it was obvious that I could no longer support Scientology while remaining a member of this organization.