[Síguenos ahora también en WhatsApp. Da clic aquí]

A 71 year old man is on trial in France accused of drugging his wife and invite dozens of strangers to rape her in his home for nearly a decade in a case that shook the country.

That man, Dominic PelicoProsecutors say he offered sex to his wife on a website and filmed the abuse. Fifty other men accused of raping the woman while she was passed out on drugs are also facing trial.

Each of them faces up to 20 years in prison if they are found guilty.

Because of drugs, Pelico’s wife knew nothing about the rapes that took place at their home in the southern French town of Mazan until police told her about them four years ago, his lawyers say.

“She knew nothing about what had happened to her. He had no recollection of the violations he had suffered.“, lawyer Antoine Camus told France Bleu radio.

French media, including Le Mondesaid police came across thousands of photos and videos of Pelicott abusing his wife while investigating him after several women alleged he used her phone to take pictures of skirts in a supermarket.

The men were of all ages and backgrounds, French media reported, adding that some admitted guilt while others said they believed their wives had pretended to be asleep.

The trial, which will include images of rape, will be “horrible experience” for her, Camus said.

The trial began on Monday and will run until December and will not be held behind closed doors, as is typical in violent sex crimes cases.

Peliko’s wife, who He is now 72 years old.said he wants the trial to be held in public to warn the public about sexual assault and drug-related power outages, his lawyers said.

Lawyer Stéphane Baboneau, who also represents the victim, told French media he wanted to show “that shame must pass to the other side.”

Beatrice Zavarro, Dominique Pelico’s lawyer, told French media that he admits his crimes.

Reuters