The public and press are allowed to see video evidence

A court trying a Frenchman who recruited dozens of strangers to rape his heavily drugged wife ruled on Friday, October 4, that the public and media can be present to view video evidence , thereby overturning an earlier decision.

Lawyers for the victim, Gisèle Pelicot – the ex-wife of main defendant Dominique Pelicot – hailed the verdict, handed down by Judge Roger Arata after 90 minutes of deliberations, as a “victory”. The showing of these images will be preceded by an “announcement allowing sensitive people and minors to leave the courtroom,” the judge added.

However, the review of such video evidence “will not be systematic” and will only take place when “strictly necessary to uncover the truth,” at the request of one of the parties, Arata added.

Since the trial began on September 2nd, the courtroom in the southern city of Avignon has been reserved for members of the court, the parties and the press. The public has been assigned to a side room where the proceedings will be broadcast live.

Last month, the judge had banned the broadcast of the images in the presence of the public and the press, saying: “As these images are indecent and shocking, this will only be done in the presence of the litigants and the court.”

However, lawyers for Gisèle Pelicot, who has insisted that the trial be held publicly to raise awareness of drug use in sexual abuse, called for the restrictions to be lifted. “It’s too late for Gisèle Pelicot. The damage is done,” said her lawyer Stéphane Babonneau. “But if these same hearings help prevent other women from going through this through her outreach, then she will find meaning in her suffering.”