French grandmother Gisèle Pelicot, who bravely fought for her rape trial to be held in public, is set to take the stand this week to comment on the evidence presented so far. The 72-year-old was unknowingly drugged and raped by her ex-husband and 50 other men over a nine-year period. Her ex-husband admitted to the charges and revealed he had organized the assaults with other men through an online chatroom.
In almost two months of testimony, the court has heard from the accused men, with many denying the allegations. Video evidence of the rapes was discovered by police after Pelicot’s ex-husband was arrested for filming up women’s skirts. A total of 50 men face sentences of up to 20 years in prison. The accused include a variety of professions, such as a nurse, journalist, soldier, and more.
Pelicot has spoken out about feeling humiliated during the trial, as defense lawyers have suggested that she may have been complicit or pretending to be asleep. She has been invited by the court president to share her experiences as the trial nears its halfway point. Pelicot’s lawyer stated that she wanted the trial to raise awareness about drugging in sexual assault and did not want it held behind closed doors.
The trial has garnered support from thousands of demonstrators across France, showing solidarity with Pelicot in her fight for justice. The trial is expected to continue until December 20th.
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