“Since I arrived in this courtroom, I feel humiliated.” Gisèle Pelicot spoke on Wednesday, September 18, before the criminal court of Avignon, against the 51 men accused of aggravated rape of her. On Thursday, the hearing continues with the testimonies of two other accused, including Jacques C., 72 years old and Lionel R., 44 years old. The latter is one of the 14 accused to have admitted the facts. “I never meant to hurt you. But I did. I would like to ask for forgiveness, [mais] I know my apologies won’t change anything”he saidHeard early in the afternoon, Jacques C. also apologized to the civil parties: “I apologize. And I hope your family survives this.” Follow our live stream.
Jacques C. denies any “oversized sexual desire.” Heard early in the afternoon, Jacques C., 72 years old, former truck driver and ex-pizzeria manager, said he had started libertinism from the age of 50. “These are practices that I always had when I was single, when I lived alone. I didn’t meet people who wanted to practice this kind of freedom.”he specifies defending itself however from being “sex addict”.
Lionel R. looks back on his career. The first accused said he had been the victim of a sexual assault as a teenager. When he saw the Dominique Pelicot affair break in the newspapers, he was in denial: “No, it can’t be, it can’t be my story, I’m not part of it”He worked at the Leclerc supermarket where Gisèle Pelicot’s ex-husband was arrested.
Photos of Gisèle Pelicot released yesterday. Wednesday, 27 intimate photos of the main victim have been broadcast. Gisèle Pelicot said she did not remember any of the scenes broadcast, including the one where her eyes were open. “What are we looking for in this room? That I’m guilty? We wonder who is the guilty person in this courtroom!”she said.
Mazan rape victim expresses anger. Asked by defense lawyers about these photos of possible “exhibitionist tendencies”Gisèle Pelicot got carried away: “I’m not even going to answer that question, because I find it very insulting! I find it degrading and humiliating.”