The “ordinary men” who raped Gisèle Pélicot with her husband’s consent

His relationship with women? “I always respected my wife and her decisions. She didn't belong to me: if she didn't want something, I respected that.”

“He never made inappropriate gestures towards me or my friends,” his daughter said. “He is respectful, helpful and hardworking. We have a close relationship. He taught me the values ​​of life.”

The prosecutor pointed out that eight months after his arrest, Delville told the investigating judge: “I did not have Madame Pelicot's consent. I am guilty of rape.”

“Can we assume that this position should definitely be maintained?” asked the prosecutor.

“Yes. I'm sorry, I was naive, stupid, an asshole,” said Delville.

Outwardly inconspicuous

Two other defendants were questioned about the rape of Ms. Pélicot. Both appear modest, at least on the outside.

Lionel Rodriguez is a 44-year-old former supermarket worker and father of three. His friends describe him as “upright and honest, a loving husband and father.” He said he mistakenly believed he was taking part in a permissive “game” and did not believe it was abuse – but then he realized “something was wrong.”

Mr Pélicot had sent him pictures of his wife naked in the couple's garden, he said, adding: “I never thought she couldn't be part of this game. That was my first big mistake.”

“I didn't ask myself too many questions,” he confessed when asked how he had arranged a nighttime rendezvous at the Pélicots' house. “I'm not looking for excuses. I've lost my bearings.”

He said he had no intention of raping, but “since I never obtained Ms. Pelicot's consent, I have no choice but to accept the facts.”

“Friendly and caring”

Among the oldest in the dock is Jacques Cubeau, a 72-year-old retired naval fireman, truck driver and pizzeria owner whom his family describes as “kind and caring” and whose Catholic upbringing led him to “do good for those around him.”

“I have the deepest respect for women,” said the grandfather, whereupon the judge asked, “How can this statement be reconciled with the charge against you of raping an unconscious woman?”

“I thought it was a fantasy of theirs… I was under the impression it was a shy woman in a swinger couple,” he said, apologizing but denying the rape.

His claim that he had neither penetrative nor oral sex with Ms Pelicot (he claimed he did not use his tongue) prompted the judge to show for the first time a shocking video in which Cubeau appeared to do just that.

“I realized that I might have been abusing her, but I didn't realize it until late,” he murmured in explanation.

After the video was played, presiding judge Roger Arata ruled that no further images would be shown to the public or journalists in the courtroom, despite Ms. Pélicot's request that the footage be made publicly available without restrictions.

“We must not shy away from addressing rape,” said Stephane Babonneau, one of Ms. Pélicot's lawyers. “This trial has the potential to change society. [but we] must have the courage to confront what rape really is,” she said.

Defendants booed

As the trial continued, defendants were booed, some even threatened journalists and demonstrators. One even hit a camera crew and was filmed shouting: “Watch out, otherwise I'll rape your mother too.”

Meanwhile, public support for Ms. Pélicot is increasing daily and her appearances in court are cheered by well-wishers.

The question now being raised in France is whether the trial could mark a turning point for a patriarchal society that tolerates women being treated like objects.

Speaking to France Info, feminist writer Rose Lamy said the case could put an end to the idea that sexism and sexual violence are only committed by “others” – by perverts, monsters, serial killers.

They too were committed by “good family fathers,” she said.

Ms Lamy said the fact the victim was drugged and unconscious made it difficult to claim she had somehow asked for it, and the overwhelming visual evidence meant the rape could not be downplayed. “There is no real point of attack against the victim,” she said.

Above all, Ms Lamy said: “This trial reinforces the idea that Mr Tout-le-Monde committed such acts of violence.”

“Feminist activists have been promoting this idea for years, but perhaps in limited circles. With this trial, everyone will certainly know from now on.”