Gisèle Pelicot attributable to take the stand shortly
Angelique Chrisafis
Gisèle Pelicot is predicted to take the stand at about 11am native time. By way of her lawyer, she commented on the testimony of the spouse of one of many accused males this morning.
A forty five-year-old Vietnamese girl testified in connection to her husband, Jean Luc L, a 46-year-old mirror-maker, who’s accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot on two events in 2018 and 2019.
Jean-Luc L’s spouse of ten years, who has two youngsters with him, instructed the court docket that as a result of her personal mom was unwell on the time, she had not needed intercourse along with her husband and had stated no to him over an extended time period. Requested how she felt when police instructed her of the rape prices in opposition to her husband, she instructed the court docket in a mushy voice, translated by an interpreter: “I was very sad, in shock. But I think because I refused him all the time, as a man he had to look elsewhere.”
Gisele Pelicot’s lawyer, Stéphane Babonneau, instructed the court docket: “You thought that because you refused a sexual relationship, because your mother was very ill and your mind was on other things, you thought you had a role in what happened, and Gisèle Pelicot could not help reacting. For her, it’s not because you refused a sexual relationship that it led to this happening. Because there is never an obligation to have sexual relations with your husband. Do you understand that?”
Babonneau continued: “Gisèle Pelicot says you have no responsibility whatsoever in the fact that your husband decided to do what he did.”
Key occasions
The court docket is now listening to testimony from yet one more witness – the girlfriend of one of many accused, 31-year-old Gregory S – earlier than taking a 15-minute break, after which Gisèle Pelicot is predicted to take the stand at about 11.30.
Roughly halfway by the trial, which is because of final till December, she has been invited by the court docket to touch upon and reply to the proof and testimony which were heard up to now.
Angelique Chrisafis
This week, the court docket is listening to the circumstances of six males accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot.
They embrace a 34-year-old jail warden, a 55-year-old electrician, a 32-year-old supply driver, a 46-year-old mirror-maker and a 31-year-old painter and decorator.
One of many accused, a 47-year-old former manufacturing unit employee, was pushed to the Pelicots’ village by his then girlfriend who waited within the automotive for him on the time he’s accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot. A canteen employee, she instructed the court docket she didn’t know what occurred that evening and had not requested any questions.
All the six males will probably be in court docket when Gisèle Pelicot speaks this morning.
Dominique Pelicot, Gisèle Pelicot’s former husband, who has admitted to drugging and raping her and stated he recruited males on-line to rape her, was sitting in a safe glass-screened space of the court docket, guarded by two law enforcement officials. Every single day he is delivered to court docket from his jail cell the place he’s being held on remand.
Listed here are some extra footage of Gisèle Pelicot arriving on the courthouse in Avignon this morning:
The 50 males accused of rape and assault alongside Gisèle Pelicot’s former husband, Dominique are aged between 26 and 74. They embrace a nurse, a journalist, a jail warden, a neighborhood councillor, a soldier, lorry drivers and farm employees. They every resist 20 years in jail.
In whole, 49 are accused of rape, considered one of tried rape and considered one of sexual assault. 5 others are additionally accused of possessing baby abuse imagery.
Most lived in south-eastern France inside a 60km radius of the village of Mazan, the place the Pelicots lived. Six have earlier convictions for home violence, two have convictions for sexual violence. A complete of 23 have a legal file for offences resembling drunk-driving and possession of medicine.
A few of the accused males have admitted rape however stated they didn’t set out with this intention, and have apologised in court docket to Gisèle Pelicot, 72, a grandmother and former logistics supervisor. Others have denied the cost of rape, saying they believed they have been participating in a sport by the couple.
Angelique Chrisafis, who has been following the trial because it started in early September, has been compiling transient pen portraits of the lads accused as they seem in court docket. You’ll be able to learn her full account right here:
Gisèle Pelicot he has been hailed as a feminist hero throughout France, counseled for her braveness at rallies throughout the nation and applauded by supporters every time she enters or leaves the courtroom in Avignon.
However tributes to her have additionally come from past the nation’s borders, with solidarity from Austria to Australia hinting on the function she has performed in galvanising a worldwide dialog round sexual violence.
The Guardian’s European neighborhood affairs correspondent, Ashifa Kassam, takes a take a look at the expressions of solidarity with Gisèle Pelicot which have sprung up around the globe:
Gisèle Pelicot attributable to take the stand shortly
Angelique Chrisafis
Gisèle Pelicot is predicted to take the stand at about 11am native time. By way of her lawyer, she commented on the testimony of the spouse of one of many accused males this morning.
A forty five-year-old Vietnamese girl testified in connection to her husband, Jean Luc L, a 46-year-old mirror-maker, who’s accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot on two events in 2018 and 2019.
Jean-Luc L’s spouse of ten years, who has two youngsters with him, instructed the court docket that as a result of her personal mom was unwell on the time, she had not needed intercourse along with her husband and had stated no to him over an extended time period. Requested how she felt when police instructed her of the rape prices in opposition to her husband, she instructed the court docket in a mushy voice, translated by an interpreter: “I was very sad, in shock. But I think because I refused him all the time, as a man he had to look elsewhere.”
Gisele Pelicot’s lawyer, Stéphane Babonneau, instructed the court docket: “You thought that because you refused a sexual relationship, because your mother was very ill and your mind was on other things, you thought you had a role in what happened, and Gisèle Pelicot could not help reacting. For her, it’s not because you refused a sexual relationship that it led to this happening. Because there is never an obligation to have sexual relations with your husband. Do you understand that?”
Babonneau continued: “Gisèle Pelicot says you have no responsibility whatsoever in the fact that your husband decided to do what he did.”
Angelique Chrisafis
Greater than 100 members of the general public had queued from earlier than 7am outdoors the Avignon legal court docket to hearken to Gisèle Pelicot from an adjoining room the place proceedings are transmitted.
“What happened was so horrible that it’s important for a maximum of people to be here to show support,” stated one 73-year-old artist from Avignon.
On fortifications reverse the court docket, a banner learn “A rape is a rape.” Throughout Avignon, many streets had been papered with collage in help of Gisèle Pelicot, with messages resembling: “Gisèle – womeon thank you.”
Gisèle Pelicot arrived on the courthouse shortly earlier than 9am native time and was applauded by onlookers as she has been thoughout the trial, which – after requesting it’s open to the general public – she has attended nearly each day because it started on 2 September.
Franco Information radio’s police and crime correspondent filmed her arrival.
Opening abstract
Good day. In the present day, Gisèle Pelicot – the lady on the centre of the mass rape trial that has shaken France – is because of handle the courtroom.
Her former husband, Dominique Pelicot, 71, has admitted drugging his then-wife with sedatives and anti-anxiety medicine to render her unconscious in order that he and dozens of strangers he recruited in on-line chatrooms may allegedly rape her between 2011 and 2020 within the village of Mazan in Provence.
The 50 different males on trial, aged between 26 and 74, with professions starting from fireplace officer to journalist, are alleged to have been recruited by Pelicot, who stated they knew they have been being invited to commit rape.
In nearly two months of testimony, the court docket has heard from dozens of accused males. The bulk denied rape.
A few of the accused males have admitted Pelicot instructed them he was drugging his then-wife, however others have stated they believed they have been collaborating in a pair’s organised sport.
The court docket heard briefly from Gisèle Pelicot early on the trial however now, on the halfway level, judges are giving her the possibility to touch upon, and reply to, what the court docket has heard up to now.
The Guardian’s Paris correspondent, Angelique Chrisafis, is on the courtroom and we will probably be bringing you the most recent updates from Avignon.
