Gisele Pelicot, 71, gave permission for the court to view horrific videos of her being drugged and raped by dozens of men, including her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot.
All are accused of “aggravated rape”, while Mr Pelicot has admitted drugging his wife and violating her over a 10-year period. The trial at the Vaucluse Criminal Court, in Avignon, has portrayed Mr Pelicot as one of the worst sex offenders in recent French history.
But Ms Pelicot has been listening to insults from some of the defendants in court, including some who say she was complicit. “Not for a second did I give my consent to Mr Pelicot, nor to these men who are behind me,” she said. “Since I arrived in this courtroom, I have been humiliated. I have been called an alcoholic, an accomplice of Mr Pelicot. I have heard everything. You have to have a degree of patience to endure everything I have to hear.”
As her cross-examination continued, Ms Pelicot raised her voice, stared at the accused, and said: “For me, they are degenerates.”
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'I'm doing whatever it takes.for the team to be better'
Cheslin Kolbe, the Springboks' ultimate utility man, tells Harry Latham-Coyle about overcoming his diminutive size and difficult upbringing to make history with his 'brothers'
'No excuses': England look to power past Aussie rivals
For England, Australia lurk like a snake in the Outback.
The crisis at Arsenal points to something much deeper
There's an example some modern coaches use to show a team has run out of ideas: it is when they start swinging in crosses, repeatedly, to no effect. Arsenal tried that 46 times against Inter on Wednesday. It isn't quite the 81 that David Moyes'
Trump's victory will make Brexit even more painful
Oh, to be a fly on the wall in President Trump's Oval Office when the request arrives from Britain not to impose extra trade tariffs.
British Airways owner IAG records 15% surge in profits
The owner of airlines British Airways and Aer Lingus has said its earnings soared in recent months due to \"the effectiveness of our strategy and group-wide transformation\".
Iranian operative tasked with assassination of Trump
A fugitive Iranian government operative is accused of hiring a pair of New Yorkers he met in prison to carry out an assassination plot against a critic of the regime, and allegedly admitted to FBI agents that he had also been tasked with finding a hit squad to kill president-elect Donald Trump.
Republicans in the lead in fight to control the House
Republicans held on to a narrow edge yesterday as election officials tallied the final votes that will determine control of the US House of Representatives - and could see Donald Trump's party win a clean sweep, having already taken the Senate and the White House.
Fresh flooding hits Spain after 'intense' rainfall
Fresh flash flooding has hit Spain's northeast, washing away dozens of vehicles, after more than 200 people were killed last week in one of the worst floods in Europe this century.
Women and children make up two-thirds of Gaza dead
Women and children account for nearly 70 percent of all Palestinian deaths in Gaza verified by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), which has accused Israel of failing \"to comply with the fundamental principles of humanitarian law\".
'We failed Jewish people again', admits Dutch king
Willem-Alexander reignites memories of pogroms in WW2 as Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters are attacked in Amsterdam
