AVIGNON, France: The testimony of a 71-year-old Frenchman accused of drugging his spouse and recruiting dozens of strangers to rape her was postponed on Wednesday (Sep 11) after the presiding choose accepted that he was still unwell.
Dominique Pelicot, the primary defendant in a case that has shocked France, had been on account of testify after a delay earlier this week when he was admitted to hospital.
Pelicot has been on trial since final week for repeatedly raping and enlisting strangers to abuse his heavily sedated wife within the couple’s residence over the course of a decade.
The presiding choose on Wednesday granted defence lawyer Beatrice Zavarro’s demand that Pelicot, who appeared in court docket frail and leaning on a cane, once more be excused.
Zavarro stated her consumer was “nonetheless in numerous ache” and never in a situation to resist a full day listening to after beginning to present signs of what could possibly be a bladder an infection on Friday.
Pelicot was despatched again to jail for a medical evaluation and it was not instantly clear when he can be in a situation to testify in court docket.
Prosecutors stated Pelicot provided intercourse together with his spouse on a web site and filmed the abuse. Fifty different males accused of participating within the abuse are additionally on trial.
Zavarro has instructed French media Pelicot admits to his crimes. Among the different defendants have admitted their guilt whereas others say they thought the spouse had pretended to be asleep, in response to French media.
They every resist 20 years in jail if discovered responsible.
