Five years after being accused of historic rape of a 16-year-old girl, Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton's sister Pippa Middleton's father-in-law, 79, faces a fresh investigation by a Paris child protection unit.
An investigation is underway into allegations that David Matthews raped a 16-year-old girl
A new investigation has been launched by detectives, according to The Mail on Sunday.
In 2018, French police arrested David Matthews, 79, and he remains under investigation over allegations that he raped a 16-year-old girl twice between 1998 and 1999 - first in Paris, then on St Barts where he owns a hotel that charges a nightly rate of £5,000.
However, detectives have begun another investigation in tandem with the current one, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
It is being handled by the same Paris unit that deals with crimes against under-18s - the Brigade for the Protection of Minors. During the original inquiry, further allegations are believed to have emerged.
The former racing driver, whose son James married the Princess of Wales's sister in 2017, vehemently denies any wrongdoing and sources close to him said his legal team has not been informed of any new allegations. As Pippa and her family arrived on St Barts for their holiday last month, he was pictured greeting them.
According to a spokesman for the Paris prosecutors: ‘The judicial investigation in which David Matthews has been indicted and placed under judicial control is in progress. I can also confirm a preliminary investigation entrusted to the Brigade for the Protection of Minors is also under way, implicating David Matthews.’
Further details could not be provided, he said.
In 2021, Judge Jean Rea interviewed Mr. Matthews twice. He was first questioned in April 2018 after he was arrested on his way into Paris from the Caribbean. In the past, he has claimed to friends that he is being 'set up' by the original complainant to create embarrassment for his family. The accusation is denied angrily by her.
During an interview with the MoS in 2018, her father stated: ‘The idea she is doing this for compensation or any reason other than a desire for justice is completely wrong.’
Initially, his daughter, who is British but cannot be identified for legal reasons, blamed herself for the alleged attacks, which left her feeling 'shocked and disgusted'.
She told police she was groomed and assaulted when she was just 15 years old, but the first alleged rape took place when she was 16.
When she confided in her parents eight years ago, they were 'incredibly shocked' by her account.
As her father put it: ‘She told me, “You don’t know what I’ve been going through all these years.” Then it all came pouring out. She said it had been a burden because she had kept it bottled up for so long. It’s caused her an immense emotional strain.’
When Mr Matthews was arrested in France, the statute of limitations for rape prosecution was two decades, so the charges may have been time-barred. In 2018, a new law extended this period to 30 years for complainants under 18 years of age.
In addition to Prince William and Prince Harry, Mr Matthews attended his son's wedding with senior members of the Royal Family.
His fortune grew from the sale of second-hand cars to real estate development and hotel ownership. He is the son of a Rotherham coal miner.
He became an apprentice garage mechanic after leaving school. When he was 19, he sold cars door-to-door and raced cars in his spare time. One of Britain's first women racing drivers, Anita Taylor, was his first wife. In 1969, they divorced after having a daughter, Nina.
Jane Parker, now 75, was his second wife, and after moving out of their bungalow in Rotherham they lived on a 30-acre, 18th Century estate in rural Lincolnshire. After their fortunes rose, they lived in Paris and Monaco.
They had three sons, James, Spencer and Michael – the latter died when he was 22 during an expedition on Mount Everest.
In 1995, Mr Matthews bought Eden Rock in St Barts. Now he lives on the island with his wife. While he remains on bail and is not restricted from traveling, he is frequently summoned for an interview in Paris.
Since St Barts is a French island, it is part of the European Union. Matthews is not considered a flight risk or likely to interfere with witnesses, and he has cooperated fully with the Paris authorities.
-source: dailymail
Kommentare