French judge limits screenings of ‘shocking’ videos in Pelicot mass rape case
A French judge on Friday ruled that videos of men raping Gisele Pelicot while she was drugged could be shown at the request of the prosecution or defence, but not as a matter of course due to the disturbing content. Pelicot had urged that the footage be shown without restrictions. The 71-year-old woman has become a symbol of France’s fight against sexual violence following her decision to forgo a private trial.
Images of men allegedly raping a drugged Frenchwoman won't be shown when the public or journalists are in court for the trial of dozens of defendants in a case that has horrified France, a judge ruled Friday.
Gisele Pelicot, whose ex-husband and 49 other men are charged over the decade-long alleged mass rape, urged that the footage be shown without restrictions.
The presiding judge in the trial of Dominique Pelicot and dozens of others ruled the videos could be shown at the request of the prosecution or defence, but not as a matter of course.
"We must not shy away from coming face to face with rape," said Stephane Babonneau, one of Gisele Pelicot's lawyers.
She demanded that the trial be public and had herself decided "from the outset that she would watch these videos", he said.
But presiding judge Roger Arata said the images were "obscene and shocking" and would therefore not be shown systematically and not with media or the public present.
Read more on FRANCE 24 English
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