Frenchman accused of mass rapes of drugged wife too ill to testify this week
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Ms Gisele Pelicot, who was allegedly drugged by her husband and raped by men he solicited, at the courthouse in Avignon, France, on Sept 11.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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AVIGNON, France – Dominique Pelicot, a 71-year-old Frenchman accused of drugging his wife and recruiting dozens of strangers to rape her, will not take part in his trial this week because his health has deteriorated, his lawyer said on Sept 11.
Pelicot, the main defendant in a case that has shocked France, had been expected to testify earlier this week, but his appearance was delayed when he was admitted to hospital.
“Mr Pelicot’s state has become more serious. He will not be there tomorrow or Friday,” his lawyer Beatrice Zavarro said, without disclosing additional details of Pelicot’s condition.
The chief judge earlier said he might pause the whole trial should Pelicot’s health deteriorate further. A group of about 50 men accused of raping Pelicot’s heavily sedated wife Gisele
Prosecutors said Pelicot offered sex with his wife on a website and filmed the abuse.
His lawyer on Sept 11 said her client was “still in a lot of pain” when he left the court for further medical checks, to be carried out in jail.
She said Pelicot could have a bladder infection or colic. REUTERS
