A French judge has overturned a verdict in the trial of a man accused of drugging his wife Gisèle Pelicot to sleep and soliciting hundreds of men to assault her for more than ten years.
Lawyers for Gisèle Pelicot, 72, had already filed an appeal against the judge’s first decision to show just video of the crimes to lawyers and jurors.
She surrendered her right to confidentiality during the trial, allowing the horrifying details of the case to be aired in public.
Her lawyers argued that the film should be shown to raise awareness about the use of drugs to conduct sexual abuse. They described the new decision as a “victory.”.
Dominique Pelicot, 71, documented many of the acts perpetrated against his now ex-wife on tape and has admitted to the allegations.
However, 50 other men have been accused of rape alongside him, and the films are seen to be key evidence in the case.
The judge said on Friday that there would be an announcement in the courtroom “allowing people of a sensitive disposition and minors to leave” before the photographs were presented.
He further stated that the video footage screened would be “not systematic” and would only be shown when “strictly necessary for exposing the truth” at the request of one of the parties.
Last month, a judge prohibited the public and journalists from viewing such footage because it was “shocking and indecent.”.
However, the judge decided to waive the limits after Ms. Pelicot’s counsel requested that the trial be open to the public.
“If these same hearings, through their publicity, help prevent other women from having to go through this, then she will find meaning in her suffering,” one of Ms. Pelicot’s lawyers, Stéphane Babonneau, said.
Mr. Babonneau described the verdict as “a victory in a fight that should not have been fought,” noting that rape victims have had the ability to choose whether proceedings should be public for decades under French law.
The French press likewise called for the verdict to be overturned.
The judicial press organisation (APJ) has warned of a “serious attack” on freedom of information.
Lawyers for several of the 50 co-defendants accused of raping Mr. Pelicot’s ex-wife spoke out forcefully against the screening of video evidence.
“Justice does not need that in order to proceed; what is the point of these revolting screenings?” said lawyer Olivier Lantelme.
The sheer number of men connected in the case has stunned the French public.
Police were only able to identify 50 of the 83 people seen in Dominique Pelicot’s films.
Their ages range from 26 to 68, and they come from various walks of life, including firefighters, scientists, workers, and journalists.
Many are dads and husbands. 15 of the other men accused admit to rape, while the rest just acknowledge sexual actions.
15 of the other men accused admit to rape, while the rest just acknowledge sexual actions.
