Gisele Pelicot: Woman at French rape trial center expected to appear in court | World news

The woman at the center of a rape trial that shocked France is expected to appear in court today.

Gisele Pelicot, 72 years old, was sedated and raped by her then husband, Dominique Pelicot.

For nearly a decade, he crushed sleeping pills and other anti-anxiety medications into her food and drink and then allegedly recruited men online to rape her.

Supported by her family, Gisele was applauded upon arriving on Wednesday.

She is expected to react to the evidence heard so far in the case, which is halfway through the process.

Dressed in a gray zip-up cardigan and blue trousers, Dominique Pelicot bit his nails and stared at the ceiling as proceedings began in Avignon.

He has already admitted to the charges for the crimes – committed between 2011 and 2020.

He told the court he used a chat room to organize men to come to her home and rape her while she was in a coma.

“I am a rapist, like the others in this room,” Pelicot previously admitted, claiming that the others knew they were being asked to commit rape.

Forty-nine of the 51 men on trial, including Dominique Pelicot, are accused of rape, one of attempted rape and one of sexual assault.

Some of them admit to the accusations, but say they did not intend to commit rape.

Most deny the accusations, some claiming to believe they were part of a game between the couple.

The men are between 26 and 74 years old and the majority lived in the southeast France. Among them are a journalist, soldier and truck driver.

They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

‘He found sex elsewhere’

The wife of a co-defendant told the court on Wednesday that because she refused him sex, “he found it somewhere else.”

Giving evidence, the 45-year-old described her husband Jean Luc-L as “nice, honest, but easily trusts everyone. He is a good husband and father.”

She said their life was normal, adding: “He never hit me. I often refused sex. He insisted, but if I refused he would be unhappy and leave.”

Recalling when police told her about the allegations, the mother-of-two said: “I was in shock, but I think because I refused him sex, as a man, that’s why he found it somewhere else.”

Upon hearing the comment, Gisele expressed surprise through her lawyer.

“I understand Gisele’s position,” said the co-defendant’s wife.

The lawyer asked about Gisele’s surprise at her comments: “It’s because I kept refusing and for a long time,” she replied, provoking audible gasps from some present in the courtroom.

“I understand that what my husband did to Gisele is unacceptable and I share his pain,” she said.

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The woman said she did not abandon her husband and still visits him in prison.

Gisele Pelicot waived her right to anonymity to ensure evidence is heard in public, saying “shame must change sides”.

People across France gathered in demonstrations in his name to show their support.

The trial is expected to continue until the end of the year.