Merchandise 1 of five Gisele Pelicot, who has allegedly been drugged and raped by means of males solicited by means of her husband Dominique Pelicot, leaves the courthouse along with her legal professional Stephane Babonneau throughout the trial of her husband with 50 co-accused, in Avignon, France, September 18, 2024. REUTERS/Antony Paone[1/5]Gisele Pelicot, who has allegedly been drugged and raped by means of males solicited by means of her husband Dominique Pelicot, leaves the courthouse along with her legal professional Stephane Babonneau throughout the trial of her husband with 50 co-accused, in Avignon, France, September 18, 2024. REUTERS/Antony Paone Acquire Licensing Rights, opens new tabMan accused of copying Dominique Pelicot to drug and rape wifeJean-Pierre Marechal additionally allowed Pelicot to abuse his partnerBlames mentor and adolescence abuse for sexual violenceGisele Pelicot turns into image for ladies’s rightsAVIGNON, France, Sept 18 (Reuters) – An affiliate of Frenchman Dominique Pelicot, who for a just about a decade drugged his spouse and invited dozens of fellows to rape her, admitted to copycat abuse of his personal spouse on Wednesday, blaming his mentor and a stricken adolescence.Police have stated Jean-Pierre Marechal, 63, labored with Pelicot to drug and each rape Marechal’s spouse Cilia after assembly on a now-shuttered web page.The trial of Pelicot and 50 different males accused of raping his spouse has surprised the arena. It has additionally brought about protests throughout France in toughen of Gisele Pelicot, who has grow to be a logo of the combat towards sexual violence.In courtroom on Tuesday, Pelicot admitted orchestrating the mass rape of his now-ex-wife. He requested for forgiveness, and stated he in the end was hoping to win again his former spouse, who filed for divorce after finding out of the rapes from investigators.Wednesday started with extra anxious testimony, as Marechal described how he and his sisters suffered sexual abuse by the hands of his father.He stated it was once Pelicot who unlocked his internal demon.”I be apologetic about my movements. I really like my spouse,” Marechal stated within the court. “If I had no longer met Mr. Pelicot, I might have by no means dedicated this act. He was once reassuring, like a cousin.”Marechal isn’t, on the other hand, accused of raping Gisele Pelicot, who is anticipated to testify herself afterward Wednesday.WEB MEETINGProsecutors allege Marechal met Pelicot on a web page known as Coco, the place Pelicot shared with him pictures of the rapes of his spouse by means of the lads he had recruited, describing how he had drugged her.Marechal stated within the court he stumbled around the web page unintentionally and first of all refused Pelicot’s request to rape his spouse prior to acquiescing. Prosecutors say Pelicot drugged Marechal’s spouse and raped her whilst Marechal watched.Pelicot stated his guilt in raping Marechal’s spouse and stated he regretted his movements, including that he reduce touch with them after she awoke whilst he was once in her room. Prosecutors say Pelicot was once recorded in no less than 3 of 12 attacks towards Marechal’s spouse Cilia.The 54-year-old has 5 youngsters with Marechal and has caught by means of him, no longer submitting a felony grievance.Against this, Gisele Pelicot, 72, insisted on a public trial in an try to disclose her former husband and the 50 males he’s accused of recruiting to rape her. Enroll right here.Reporting by means of Marc Leras; Writing by means of Makini Brice; Modifying by means of Andrew CawthorneOur Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Believe Ideas., opens new tabPurchase Licensing Rights
