Gisele Pelicot, who was drugged and raped by dozens of men recruited by her husband, on Wednesday called the men standing trial “degenerates” while attempts from some defence lawyers to question her credibility caused outrage in the courtroom.
The trial in the southern French town of Avignon of Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men accused of raping his wife has shocked the world. The case has also triggered protests across France in support of Gisele Pelicot, who has become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence.
The court told attendees not to boo the suspects in the case, telling them they were innocent until proven guilty in response to a skirmish between supporters of the victim and some of the accused on the day before. Tensions still increased during Wednesday’s hearing.
Causing the day’s most heated exchanges, two of the defence lawyers representing men Pelicot invited to his family home to commit abuse asked the court to display photos which they said raised doubts whether the victim was aware of what happened to her.
Gisele Pelicot fiercely rejected the claims. “They’re trying to trap me with these photos”, she said, reiterating she never agreed to any sexual activity. Her former husband said he took all the images while his wife was knocked out.