Judge rules public can view video evidence of mass rape trial in France

Warning: This story contains distressing details from the beginning.

A French judge has overturned the verdict in the trial of a man accused of drugging his wife and recruiting dozens of men to abuse her for more than a decade.

Lawyers for Gisèle Pelicot, 72, had previously appealed the judge’s initial decision to show video of the crime only to lawyers and the jury.

She waived her right to anonymity during the trial, allowing the shocking details of the case to be heard in public.

Her lawyers argued that the video should be viewed to draw attention to the use of drugs to commit sexual abuse. They hailed the latest ruling as a “victory”.

Dominique Pelicot, 71, recorded many of the crimes against his ex-wife on video and he admitted to the charges against him.

However, 50 other men were also charged with rape along with him and the videos were considered a key element in the case.

The judge announced Friday that before the images are shown, there will be an announcement in the courtroom “allowing persons of sensitive character and minors to leave.”

He added that the screened video evidence will be “not systematic” and will only be shown when it is “absolutely necessary to expose the truth” at the request of one of the parties.

The judge last month banned the broadcast of such footage to the public and press, saying the images were “shocking and indecent”.

However, he decided to lift the restrictions following a call from Ms Pelicot’s lawyer for the trial to be open to the public.

“If these similar hearings, through publicity, help prevent other women from having to go through this, then she will find the meaning in our suffering”.

Mr. Babonneau called the ruling “a victory in a war that should not have happened,” adding that rape victims under French law for decades have had the right to decide whether the procedures Should the proceedings be made public?

The French press also campaigned to overturn the verdict. The Judicial Press Association (APJ) warns of a “serious attack” on freedom of information.

The screening of video evidence was strongly opposed by lawyers for some of the 50 co-defendants accused of raping Mr. Pelicot’s ex-wife.

“Justice does not need that to continue, what is the purpose of these offensive film screenings?” said lawyer Olivier Lantelme.

The French public was shocked by the number of men involved in the case.

Police have only identified 50 suspects out of 83 suspects appearing in Dominique Pelicot’s video.

Their ages range from 26 to 68 and they come from all walks of life – firefighters, pharmacists, laborers and journalists. Many people are fathers and husbands.

Of the other charged men, 15 admitted to rape, but all the rest admitted only to engaging in sexual acts.