British woman who accused Oscar winner Paul Haggis of rape ‘asked for a role in James Bond’

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Haggis, co-writer, director and producer of Crash, which won the 2006 Oscars for Best Picture and Best Screenplay, is pictured with his lawyers in court in Italy

A Brit who claims she was ‘raped’ by Oscar winner Paul Haggis asked him to get her a role in a James Bond film, sources say.

The unidentified 30-year-old was found last week in a distressed state and told police she was held at an Italian bed and breakfast for 48 hours and abused by him before being dumped at an airport.

Haggis, appearing before a judge on Wednesday, has denied any wrongdoing and his attorney Michele Laforgia has insisted the sex between the couple was consensual.

Haggis, co-writer, director and producer of Crash, which won the 2006 Oscars for Best Picture and Best Screenplay, is pictured with his lawyers in court in Italy

Haggis, co-writer, director and producer of Crash, which won the 2006 Oscars for Best Picture and Best Screenplay, is pictured with his lawyers in court in Italy

File Photo: Haggis is pictured arriving at the Rome Film Festival on October 16, 2015

File Photo: Haggis is pictured arriving at the Rome Film Festival on October 16, 2015

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A behind-closed-doors hearing was held at the Brindisi court on Wednesday to decide whether the Canadian – who co-wrote Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace – should be released pending further investigation by Italian police.

A request to be released from house arrest was later rejected by an Italian judge and he must remain in Italy while the investigation continues.

Ahead of his hearing, local media gave details of a seven-page memo he allegedly wrote for his lawyer, in which he reportedly claimed he met the woman at a film festival in Monte Carlo in April and the two had stayed in touch via Whatsapp.

Haggis claimed the couple spoke briefly in Monte Carlo and she expressed a desire to star in the next James Bond film, later posting a picture with him saying it was “an honor to meet him.” .

He then described how the two met in June in Ostuni near Brindisi and drove to his hotel, where she “kissed” him passionately.

Haggis goes on to claim in the memo that the two had sex after she took a shower, stressing that it was amicable and they went out together the next day ahead of the Allora Film Festival in Ostuni, where he attended as a guest Daughter.

He told his lawyer that the woman “insisted” on holding his hand – which he said was uncomfortable – and that she was upset by his reaction.

When he was back in her room, he claimed the couple then had consensual sex again. The next day, Haggis said he left her because he had a business appointment and that she met up with friends before they met again that evening, according to his leaked statement, where they once had consensual sex again.

In mid-June he claimed the woman went out with friends again but returned drunk and tried to have sex with him but he refused and then began describing how she was the next Bond girl.

The statement further alleges that early the next day Haggis took the woman to Brindisi airport for her return flight to Stansted, where she asked him for money, but he refused and drove away.

Haggis wrote the screenplays for the Daniel Craig blockbusters Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, and won an Academy Award for his screenplay for the 2004 hit Crash

Haggis wrote the screenplays for the Daniel Craig blockbusters Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, and won an Academy Award for his screenplay for the 2004 hit Crash

Staff later found her in a distressed state and the police were called and she told them she had been locked up and forced to have sex with haggis for the past three days.

The officer tracked him to his hotel and he has been placed under house arrest pending his appearance before Judge Vanda Gilli today.

Mr Laforgia insisted officers had “misinterpreted” the medical report’s findings and that the couple were in fact known to each other and the sex was consensual.

Haggis co-wrote, directed and produced Crash, which won the 2006 Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Screenplay. He also wrote the screenplay for Million Dollar Baby, another Oscar winner.

He has had legal troubles in recent years over allegations of sexual misconduct by four women in the United States, which are pending trial and which Haggis has denied.

An exterior view of the Brindisi court as the judge is to decide whether Haggis can be released pending possible additional investigations

An exterior view of the Brindisi court as the judge is to decide whether Haggis can be released pending possible additional investigations

Haggis, co-writer, director and producer of Crash, which won the 2006 Oscars for Best Picture and Best Screenplay, is seen with his lawyers outside court in Italy

Haggis, co-writer, director and producer of Crash, which won the 2006 Oscars for Best Picture and Best Screenplay, is seen with his lawyers outside court in Italy

Last night Judge Vanda Gilli ruled he must remain in Italy and another hearing later this month with the woman also told to remain in the country.

Mr Laforgia told Mail Online: “The judge has ordered Mr Haggis to be kept under house arrest but it should be noted that the order highlights how always insisted there was no evidence of physical injury on medical examination.

“We also reiterate that the accused fully denies the allegations and hope that clarification will be forthcoming and that he will be released as a result.

“Mr Haggis has answered all questions put to him by the judge and is willing to remain in the country for as long as is necessary to prove his innocence.”

He added: The defender of “Paul Haggis” denies that the text, partially published in a newspaper, corresponds to the statements that the suspect will make during the interrogation before the investigating magistrate of Brindisi.

“The judgments cited were extrapolated from a confidential and confidential note that Mr Haggis transmitted prior to his imprisonment, in flagrant violation of the confidentiality of private communications and correspondence protected by criminal law, the Italian Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.

‘For this violation, Mr. Haggis reserves all steps to protect his rights before the competent authorities.’

Haggis is accused of sexual violence.

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