Stéphane Plaza Sentenced for Domestic Violence
Paris, February 18, 2023
A Paris court has sentenced Stéphane Plaza, the popular real estate agent from the M6 television show "Recherche appartement ou maison," to 12 months suspended imprisonment for "habitual violence" against an ex-girlfriend between 2018 and 2022.
Plaza, who was in tears when the verdict was announced, is also prohibited from contacting the victim for three years. However, he was acquitted on charges of "habitual psychological violence" – i.e., repeated – against another girlfriend.
Plaza’s lawyer, Hélène Plumet, announced that the host would "appeal" the judgment. His other lawyer, Carlo Alberto Brusa, argued that the "judicial system had been driven by media pressure" against a man known for his "inherent kindness." Plumet also criticized the "media pressure" that she believed had influenced the conviction.
The first plaintiff, Amandine, provided "consistent" accounts of four incidents of violence, three of which were "corroborated" during the proceedings, according to the presiding judge. The court found that the violence involved both physical (e.g., punching the shoulder, twisting fingers) and psychological (e.g., humiliation in public) abuse.
Plaza vigorously denied the allegations during the January 9 hearing. Regarding the twisted fingers incident in 2022, he claimed that "he did not control his strength because he was dyspraxic and clumsy and did not realize she was in pain."
The prosecution had urged the court to consider the "appropriate sentence" that would "place responsibility where it belongs" and "highlight the financial burden on the victims," as the case involved "money as a central element in these mechanisms of domination."
On Tuesday, the court ordered Plaza to pay Amandine €5,000 for her physical injuries, €3,000 for moral damages, and €3,000 for legal expenses.
While the court emphasized that it did not "question the word" of the second plaintiff, Paola, it noted that the psychological violence allegations were based primarily on Paola’s statements. Additionally, despite the "undisputed psychological impact," the court reasoned that it "could not be definitively linked to the events reported by the plaintiff, who had not undergone a psychiatric evaluation."
Plaza was acquitted of charges related to Paola’s allegations.
Additional Information:
- Stéphane Plaza is a popular real estate agent and television show host in France.
- The charges against Plaza stem from two relationships he had with women.
- The court found Plaza guilty of physical and psychological violence against the first plaintiff.
- Plaza was acquitted of charges related to psychological violence against the second plaintiff.
- Plaza’s lawyers have announced that he will appeal the verdict.
Analysis:
The conviction of Stéphane Plaza serves as a reminder that domestic violence can occur in all walks of life, regardless of profession or public persona. The court’s decision to convict Plaza on the physical and psychological abuse charges sends a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated. However, the acquittal on the psychological violence charges related to the second plaintiff raises questions about the evidentiary standards required to prove such offenses and the potential impact of media attention on judicial proceedings.
