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An Italian judge on Monday ordered the release of film director Paul Haggis from detention at his hotel while prosecutors decide whether to continue their investigation into whether he had sex with a woman without her consent within two days, his lawyer said .
Michel LaForgia told The Associated Press that his client, also a screenwriter and Oscar winner, Haggis is still in Italy.
The ruling was made by judge Vilma Gilli in the southern Italian region of Puglia.
Canadian-born Haggis, 69, was detained by police in Puglia on June 19 after a woman told authorities he had an encounter with her while attending an arts festival in the Italian tourist town of Ostuni Two days of non-consensual sex.
He said he was innocent, according to the lawyer.
The judge ruled that neither violence nor abuse was found on the woman, who prosecutors described as a young foreigner and Italian media as a 28-year-old British woman, La Forgia said in a text message.
Citing the judge’s ruling, the Corriere della Sera newspaper said she had concluded that Haggis “did not have acts of restrictive sexual violence”.
The judge also noted in the ruling that the woman’s decision to live with Haggis at his residence was “spontaneous,” the Italian daily said.
After a closed-door hearing on June 22, Judge Gilli ordered Haggis to remain in custody while the investigation continues.
Prosecutors did not say whether they would drop the investigation or continue it after the judge’s ruling.
Asked if the case could possibly be closed, La Forgia replied: “Let’s see what the prosecutor’s office will do at this time.”
Haggis, who lives in the United States, has other legal issues. In recent years, four women in the United States have accused him of sexual misconduct.
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