22 Aug 2011

Prosecutors ‘not convinced’ of Strauss-Kahn guilt

New York prosecutors say “they are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt” of Dominique Strauss Kahn’s sexual assault charges, and have recommended all charges be dropped.

Strauss-Kahn at an earlier hearing, Reuters.

The testimony of a hotel maid who accused IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault was not convincing beyond a reasonable doubt to present to a jury, New York prosecutors said in a court filing recommending all criminal charges be dropped.

The document sent to a judge in New York State Supreme Court said prosecutors were “no longer convinced of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”

It said Nafissatou Diallo, the hotel cleaner who said Strauss-Kahn had forced her to perform oral sex on May 14 “has not been truthful on matters great and small.”

But he is still facing a civil suit against him filed on Aug. 8. Attorney’s for the 32-year-old Diallo accuse him of sexually assaulting her in a “violent sadistic attack” at the Sofitel hotel on May 14.

The suit, filed in state Supreme Court in the Bronx, claims that a naked Strauss-Kahn emerged from the bathroom of his luxury suite and forced Diallo to perform oral sex on him.

The complaint, which does not specify the amount of damages Diallo is seeking, claims the alleged assault left “Ms. Diallo’s life and her young daughter’s life in shambles.”

Strauss-Kahn has not yet responded to the allegations.