Frenchman on trial for rape of drugged wife is hospitalised, lawyer says

world
Frenchman On Trial For Rape Of Drugged Wife Is Hospitalised, Lawyer Says
Gisele Pelicot arrives at the Avignon courthouse, to attend the trial of her former partner Dominique Pelicot accused of drugging her for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan. Photo: Getty Images
Share this article

By Antony Paone

A 71-year-old man on trial in France accused of drugging his wife and inviting dozens of strangers to rape her in their home was hospitalised on Tuesday for medical checks and treatment, his lawyer told journalists.

Dominique Pelicot, the main defendant in a trial that is set to run until December and has appalled France, had been due to testify later in the day but the presiding court judge ordered him to undergo medical tests first.

Advertisement

"Mr Pelicot is not trying to shirk his responsibility, he will not shirk his responsibility," defence lawyer Beatrice Zavarro said, adding that her client started to show symptoms of what could be a bladder infection or colic on Friday.

Beatrice Zavarro, lawyer of Dominique Pelicot accused of drugging his former partner Gisele Pelicot for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at their home in Mazan, a small town in the south of France, speaks on a mobile telephone in the courthouse in Avignon on the sidelines of Dominique's trial. 

Prosecutors said Pelicot offered sex with his wife on a website and filmed the abuse. Fifty other men accused, over the period of a decade, of raping her when she was knocked unconscious by the drugs are also on trial.

Zavarro has told French media Pelicot admits to his crimes. The other defendants were of all ages and walks of life, French media said, adding that some admitted to being guilty while others said they thought the wife had pretended to be asleep.

They each face up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.

Read More

Message submitting... Thank you for waiting.

Want us to email you top stories each lunch time?

Download our Apps
© BreakingNews.ie 2024, developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com