The trial of a Frenchman accused of recruiting strangers to rape his heavily sedated wife was suspended on Monday (Sep 16) after he failed to show up in court due to ill health.

The trial of a Frenchman accused of recruiting strangers to rape his heavily sedated wife was suspended on Monday (Sep 16) after he failed to show up in court due to ill health. The presiding judge had adjourned the trial of Dominique Pelicot until Monday after the accused was excused from attending proceedings for most of last week because of his deteriorating health. But his lawyer told AFP that Pelicot, 71, was still not well enough to attend. "He will not be there today," Beatrice Zavarro said, unless "he is taken by force" from his cell. She said Pelicot was suffering from "a clot in the bladder" and the beginning of a kidney infection. "I have been advised that Mr Pelicot has refused his extraction" from his cell, presiding judge Roger Arata said. After a short deliberation, Arata suspended proceedings for the rest of the day pending examinations of Pelicot by medical experts. "I hope they will be able to advise us on Mr Pelicot's ability to appear in court," Arata said. Pelicot, who has not yet testified at the trial, is accused of enlisting dozens of strangers to rape his drugged wife over almost a decade. He has admitted to the allegations. Watch: France Rape Case: Husband drugged wife, orchestrated decade of rape He has been on trial since the start of the month along with 50 other men aged between 26 and 74, many of whom have denied the rape charge, for alleged involvement in a case that has horrified France. Most risk up to 20 years in jail if convicted of aggravated rape. Gisele Pelicot, his ex-wife who only discovered the abuse in 2020, requested that the trial be open to the public to raise awareness about the use of drugs to commit sexual abuse. Thousands took to the streets across French cities at the weekend to demand an end to rape and to support her. "We are all Gisele," a large crowd chanted in Paris. "Rapist we see you, victim we believe you." Also read | French man’s ‘disciple’ also drugged, raped wife in similar fashion; learnt tactics in chatroom In the southern city of Marseille, activists hung up a banner on the city's court building calling for alleged perpetrators -- not victims -- to be ashamed. On Monday, Gisele Pelicot thanked the demonstrators for their actions. "Thanks to you I have the strength to see this fight through to the end," she said just before the trial reopened. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Court trial of Frenchman accused of mass rape of wife suspended. Know why

The court hearing the case of a French man who recruited dozens of strangers to rape his wife, on Wednesday (Sep 12), heard another similar case, involving one of his ‘disciples.’ 71-year-old Dominique Pélicot is facing trial for enlisting strangers to rape his drugged wife for over a decade in the southern village of Mazan.

Now, the court is hearing another case involving a man named Jean-Pierre, an alleged follower of Pélicot. He allegedly came in contact with Pélicot in a chatroom and then followed the same tactic to drug his wife in order to rape her. Jean-Pierre, 63, also enlisted Pélicot to rape his wife. The sedatives that were given to the wife reportedly came from Pélicot only.

The Guardian reported that at least 12 rapes of Jean-Pierre’s wife are alleged to have taken place between 2015 and 2020. The man has admitted charges in the court.

Watch:&nbsp;France Rape Case: Husband drugged wife, orchestrated decade of rape

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The lead investigator, Stéphan Gal, told the court that Jean-Pierre asked Pélicot to come to his home when his wife was drugged.

“Each time that [Pélicot] travelled [there], he provided him with the medication for the next time,” Gal was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

Pélicot’s lawyer informed the court that Pélicot gave Jean-Pierre the medication four times.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiLps-Lsr2IAxVlTGwGHcafFkIQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-rape-case-accused-asked-granddaughters-to-pose-naked-says-daughter-in-law-756684" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/france-rape-case-accused-asked-granddaughters-to-pose-naked-says-daughter-in-law-756684&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiLps-Lsr2IAxVlTGwGHcafFkIQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">France rape case: Accused asked granddaughters to pose naked, says daughter-in-law</a>

The court also heard that Jean-Pierre’s childhood was marked by extreme poverty and violence and sexual abuse within the family. “I was raised by pigs in the woods,” Jean-Pierre would tell his children.

32-year-old son from Jean-Pierre’s first marriage said that the charges against his father were “serious.”

“The charges are very serious and I think he’s conscious of that,” he said, adding his father must speak up in court. He also added that he felt it was a “certainty” that Jean-Pierre was manipulated by Pélicot. “I have the firm conviction that had he not met this person, there would never have been any of this,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

The court hearing the case of a French man who recruited dozens of strangers to rape his wife, on Wednesday (Sep 12), heard another similar case, involving one of his ‘disciples.

The court hearing the case of a French man who recruited dozens of strangers to rape his wife, on Wednesday (Sep 12), heard another similar case, involving one of his ‘disciples.’ 71-year-old Dominique Pélicot is facing trial for enlisting strangers to rape his drugged wife for over a decade in the southern village of Mazan. Now, the court is hearing another case involving a man named Jean-Pierre, an alleged follower of Pélicot. He allegedly came in contact with Pélicot in a chatroom and then followed the same tactic to drug his wife in order to rape her. Jean-Pierre, 63, also enlisted Pélicot to rape his wife. The sedatives that were given to the wife reportedly came from Pélicot only. The Guardian reported that at least 12 rapes of Jean-Pierre’s wife are alleged to have taken place between 2015 and 2020. The man has admitted charges in the court. Watch: France Rape Case: Husband drugged wife, orchestrated decade of rape × The lead investigator, Stéphan Gal, told the court that Jean-Pierre asked Pélicot to come to his home when his wife was drugged. “Each time that [Pélicot] travelled [there], he provided him with the medication for the next time,” Gal was quoted as saying by the Guardian. Pélicot’s lawyer informed the court that Pélicot gave Jean-Pierre the medication four times. Also read: France rape case: Accused asked granddaughters to pose naked, says daughter-in-law The court also heard that Jean-Pierre’s childhood was marked by extreme poverty and violence and sexual abuse within the family. “I was raised by pigs in the woods,” Jean-Pierre would tell his children. 32-year-old son from Jean-Pierre’s first marriage said that the charges against his father were “serious.” “The charges are very serious and I think he’s conscious of that,” he said, adding his father must speak up in court. He also added that he felt it was a “certainty” that Jean-Pierre was manipulated by Pélicot. “I have the firm conviction that had he not met this person, there would never have been any of this,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

French man’s ‘disciple’ also drugged, raped wife in similar fashion; learnt tactics in chatroom

Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details in this report disturbing. Discretion is advised.

The world is shocked and horrified by the gruesome details emerging from the trial of Dominique Pelicot, who is accused of orchestrating the sexual assault on&nbsp;his wife by dozens of men after drugging her.&nbsp;

In the last two days, the court heard how 71-year-old Pelicot sent multiple messages to the men who were part of a sordid chatroom where he invited them to rape his wife Gisele P. and said, "You're like me - you like rape mode."&nbsp;

On Thursday (September 5),&nbsp;Gisele herself testified about the crimes committed against her as she said,&nbsp;“It’s unbearable. I have so much to say that I don’t always know where to start.”

Pelicot's daughter Caroline Darian has also spoken in detail about the heinous crime committed by her father.&nbsp;

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/disgraced-frenchman-who-recruited-strangers-to-rape-wife-kept-daughters-doctored-images-in-computer-755676">Disgraced Frenchman who recruited strangers to rape wife, kept daughter's doctored images in computer</a>

In her book titled, "And I Stopped Calling You Papa", Darian speaks about how her father abused her mother Gisele and destroyed her physical and mental health.

Darian, the brave daughter, has talked about her father "dressed Maman like a low-rent prostitute". She then goes on to give some shocking details about how his father stopped some men from wearing a condom and also allowed a man who tested positive for&nbsp;HIV to rape her mother.

<h2>Daughter accuses the man of committing crimes just for 'pleasure'</h2>

In the book, Darian has written about one incident when her brother visited their parents for a meal and saw his mother almost falling asleep at the dinner table.

"Only a few minutes after sitting down, Maman was swaying in her chair as though she was drunk. Suddenly her whole body was drained of energy, like a rag doll," Darian quoted her brother as saying.

When the wife complained that she was facing gynaecological issues and contracted a sexually transmitted disease, Pelicot accused her of having an affair, the daughter wrote in the book.

Darian said that when Gisele raised her need to get treatment for the unexplained illness, her father asked, "So, what are you doing with your days?"

Watch:&nbsp;France rape horror: 72-year-old woman in France seeks justice to 92 counts of rape

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The daughter said that of the 72 men her father invited to rape her mother, never once did he demand any money or try to gain some profit from the horrific crime.

"Ultimate perversity... Father, who always had money problems, didn't profit from Maman. He did it purely for his pleasure," said Darian, in her book.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details in this report disturbing. Discretion is advised. The world is shocked and horrified by the gruesome details emerging from the trial of Dominique Pelicot, who is accused of orchestrating the sexual assault on his wife by dozens of men after drugging her.

Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details in this report disturbing. Discretion is advised. The world is shocked and horrified by the gruesome details emerging from the trial of Dominique Pelicot, who is accused of orchestrating the sexual assault on his wife by dozens of men after drugging her. In the last two days, the court heard how 71-year-old Pelicot sent multiple messages to the men who were part of a sordid chatroom where he invited them to rape his wife Gisele P. and said, "You're like me - you like rape mode." On Thursday (September 5), Gisele herself testified about the crimes committed against her as she said, “It’s unbearable. I have so much to say that I don’t always know where to start.” Pelicot's daughter Caroline Darian has also spoken in detail about the heinous crime committed by her father. Also Read: Disgraced Frenchman who recruited strangers to rape wife, kept daughter's doctored images in computer In her book titled, "And I Stopped Calling You Papa", Darian speaks about how her father abused her mother Gisele and destroyed her physical and mental health. Darian, the brave daughter, has talked about her father "dressed Maman like a low-rent prostitute". She then goes on to give some shocking details about how his father stopped some men from wearing a condom and also allowed a man who tested positive for HIV to rape her mother. Daughter accuses the man of committing crimes just for 'pleasure' In the book, Darian has written about one incident when her brother visited their parents for a meal and saw his mother almost falling asleep at the dinner table. "Only a few minutes after sitting down, Maman was swaying in her chair as though she was drunk. Suddenly her whole body was drained of energy, like a rag doll," Darian quoted her brother as saying. When the wife complained that she was facing gynaecological issues and contracted a sexually transmitted disease, Pelicot accused her of having an affair, the daughter wrote in the book. Darian said that when Gisele raised her need to get treatment for the unexplained illness, her father asked, "So, what are you doing with your days?" Watch: France rape horror: 72-year-old woman in France seeks justice to 92 counts of rape The daughter said that of the 72 men her father invited to rape her mother, never once did he demand any money or try to gain some profit from the horrific crime. "Ultimate perversity... Father, who always had money problems, didn't profit from Maman. He did it purely for his pleasure," said Darian, in her book. (With inputs from agencies)

French rape case: Among dozens of men invited by husband to rape his wife, one was an HIV patient

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Court trial of Frenchman accused of mass rape of wife suspended. Know why

French man’s ‘disciple’ also drugged, raped wife in similar fashion; learnt tactics in chatroom

French rape case: Among dozens of men invited by husband to rape his wife, one was an HIV patient