No jail for Depardieu son

Guillaume Depardieu (left) was taken ill during the hearing

Actor Gerard Depardieu's son Guillaume is expected to avoid jail after firing a gun outside a French bar in August.

When Mr Depardieu appeared in court in Normandy on Tuesday, the prosecutor recommended a one-year suspended sentence plus counselling and a fine.

Also an actor, Mr Depardieu admitted illegal possession of a gun but denied threatening behaviour and violence, saying he fired in self defence.

A final judgement on his punishment will be made on Tuesday.

The incident took place when Mr Depardieu, 32, and his friends were at a bar in the northern resort of Trouville-sur-Mer.

The court heard he was approached by a man, Daniel Bellaiche, who congratulated him for his charity work after losing a leg.

Father and son starred in the film Tous Les Matins du Monde

Depardieu Jr was involved in a motorcycle crash in 1996 and had his leg amputated in June failing to fight off infection.

Mr Bellaiche said that when he asked a question about Mr Depardieu's clothes, the actor pulled out a gun, aimed and only missed because one of his friends pushed his arm away.

But Mr Depardieu said he fired in the air to scare Mr Bellaiche away because he had just been attacked by a group of youths.

Philippe Peyroux, the prosecutor in Lisieux, Normandy, said there was no proof the attack took place.

Mr Depardieu was taken ill for 25 minutes during the hearing, but returned after being treated by a doctor.

Promising actor

Mr Peyroux recommended that, as well as the suspended sentence, Mr Depardieu should compensate Mr Bellaiche and have psychological counselling for 18 months.

Mr Peyroux also said the actor should pay an 8,000-10,000 euro (£5,500-7,000) fine and have his weapons confiscated.

Mr Depardieu won the prize for most promising actor at France's most prestigious film awards, the Cesars, in 1996.

His best-known films include Tous Les Matins du Monde, in which he appeared with his father.