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An associate of Frenchman Dominique Pelicot, who drugged his wife for nearly a decade and invited dozens of men to rape her, admitted on Wednesday that he had faked the abuse of his partner, including blamed his mentor and difficult childhood.

The police said that Jean-Pierre MarechalThe 63-year-old collaborated with Pelicot to drug and rape Marechal’s wife, Celia, after meeting on a website that has since been taken down.

The trial of Pelico and 50 other men accused of raping his wife shocked the world and sparked protests across France in support of Gisèle Pelico, who has become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence.

In court on Tuesday Dominic Pelico Admits to Organizing Mass Rape of His Now Ex-Wifeapologized and said she eventually hoped to win back her ex-partner, who filed for divorce after learning of the rapes from investigators.

On Wednesday, the trial began with more disturbing testimony, as Marechal described how he and his sisters were sexually abused by their father.

Marechal said that it was Pelicot who unleashed his inner demon.

“I regret my actions. “I love my wife.”– said Maréchal in the room. “If I had not known Mr. Pelicott, I would never have committed this act.”

However, Marechal is not charged with raping Giselle Pelico, who is expected to testify later Wednesday.

Prosecutors say Marechal met Pelicot on the Coco website, where Pelicot shared photos of his wife being raped by men he recruited and described how he drugged her.

Marechal told the court that he stumbled upon the site by chance and initially refused Pellicot’s request to rape his wife. Prosecutors say Pellicot drugged Marechal’s wife and raped her in front of her husband.

Pelicot admitted raping Marechal’s wife and said he regretted his actions, adding that he cut off contact with them after she woke up while he was in her room. Prosecutors say Pelicot was involved in at least three of the 12 attacks on Marechal’s wife, Celia.

Reuters