Pippa father-in-law facing rape charge

A JUDICIAL official says that the father-in-law of Pippa Middleton, the sister of the wife of Britain’s Prince William, was handed preliminary charges by a French judge for alleged rape of a minor for events in the 1990s.

The official said Friday that David Matthews was questioned three days earlier by special police handling cases involving minors. A preliminary charge of “rape of a minor by a person in authority” was filed.

The anonymous official said the alleged events dated to 1998 and 1999. French press reports that the complaint was filed by a niece couldn’t be immediately confirmed. Preliminary charges call for further investigation and can be dropped with insufficient evidence.

Matthews was allowed to remain free but must periodically report to judicial authorities. He became Pippa Middleton’s father-in-law after her marriage last year to hedge fund manager James Matthews.