AVIGNON, Sept 21 — Video of men allegedly raping a drugged Frenchwoman will not be shown at their trial to the public or journalists, the judge in the case ruled yesterday. Presiding judge Roger Arata denied a request by the prosecutor in the trial of the former husband of Gisele Pelicot, and 49 other men, charged with having raped her when she was drugged. Yesterday, prosecutor Jean-Francois Mayer had asked the court to show the thousands of pictures and videos filmed and meticulously archived by Dominique Pelicot.
“Without this evidence there would have been no trial,” he said. “Mrs Pelicot remembers nothing. But even if she had remembered anything, it would have been discussed and contested.
” Judge Arata ruled that ruled the videos could be shown at the request of the prosecution or defence—but not as a matter of course. “Considering that the images are indecent and shocking..
.,” he said, the footage would only be shown to those actively taking part in the trial. Friday’s ruling came a day after a number of photos and videos were screened at the trial in the absence of the public but in the presence of journalists.
They showed Dominique Pelicot and a co-accused, identified only as Jacques C., performing sexual acts on Gisele Pelicot who was visibly unconscious. ‘Have the courage’ “We must not shy away from coming face to face with rape,” said Stephane Babonneau, one of Gisele Pelicot’s lawyers.
He reminded the court that it was Pelicot who had a.