Depardieu no-show over drink-drive charges

Eric de Caumont confirmed his client’s no-show to journalists outside the Palais de Justice in Paris.

The 64-year-old star was detained by police last November after he fell off his scooter in north-west Paris.

Depardieu has caused controversy in recent weeks for other reasons – last Saturday he received a Russian passport from President Vladimir Putin.

Last month, Depardieu threatened to return his French passport after Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called him “pathetic” for deciding to move to tax-friendly Belgium.

The drink-driving hearing will now be deferred to a criminal court, and Depardieu could lose his driving licence and could face up to two years in jail.