A MASS RAPE TRIAL IN FRANCE IS CHANGING HOW THE COUNTRY CONFRONTS THE ISSUE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT – AS THE ALLEGED VICTIM TOOK THE STAND FOR THE FIRST TIME.

MANY ARE COMPARING THE INTEREST SURROUNDING THE CASE TO THE “ME TOO” MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. 

A WARNING – THE DETAILS OF THIS STORY MAY BE DIFFICULT TO HEAR. 

GISELE PELICOT TESTIFIED WEDNESDAY AGAINST HER FORMER HUSBAND … DOMINIQUE PELICOT.

HE ADMITTED TO INVITING DOZENS OF STRANGERS OVER FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS TO RAPE HER AFTER HE HAD DRUGGED HER IN SECRET. 

FIFTY OTHER MEN ARE ON TRIAL.

SOME SAID THEY WERE TOLD SHE WAS A WILLING PARTICIPANT ACTING OUT A FANTASY.

DOMINIQUE DENIED THIS … SAYING HIS CO-DEFENDANTS KNEW THE SITUATION. 

HE TOLD THE COURT HE STARTED DRUGGING GISELE SO SHE WOULD HAVE SEX WITH HIM IN THE WAY HE WANTED, SAYING HE THEN MET OTHER MEN AND INVITED THEM TO JOIN.

DOMINIQUE ENDED UP GETTING ARRESTED IN 20-20 FOR FILMING UP THE SKIRTS OF WOMEN IN A GROCERY STORE.

POLICE THEN FOUND THOUSANDS OF PORNOGRAPHIC PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ON HIS PHONE AND LAPTOP.

HE LATER ADMITTED TO RECORDING AND STORING ALL OF THE SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS WITH GISELE AND THE MEN IN SEPARATE FILES. 

GISELE SAID THAT OVER THE COURSE OF 20-10 TO 20-20 SHE STARTED SUFFERING FROM HEALTH ISSUES – LATER REALIZING THEY WERE LINKED TO THE DRUGS DOMINIQUE WAS GIVING HER IN SECRET.

GISELE SAID IN COURT QUOTE – 

“I’M A WOMAN WHO’S TOTALLY DESTROYED. MY LIFE HAS TUMBLED INTO NOTHINGNESS.” 

GISELE HAS BECOME ADMIRED BY MANY IN FRANCE FOR WAVING HER RIGHT TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND REQUESTING AN OPEN TRIAL.

SHE WAS GREETED BY A LARGE CROWD APPLAUDING HER AS SHE WALKED OUT OF THE COURTROOM WEDNESDAY. 

GISELE SAID QUOTE – “IT’S NOT COURAGE. IT’S DETERMINATION TO CHANGE THINGS. THIS IS NOT JUST MY BATTLE, BUT THAT OF ALL RAPE VICTIMS.” 

SUPPORTERS HAVE BEEN MARCHING FOR GISELE IN MORE THAN A DOZEN CITIES IN FRANCE.

SOME ORGANIZATIONS ARE ASKING THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND THE LAW ON RAPE TO INCLUDE A CLAUSE ON CONSENT. 

THE TRIAL IS ONLY ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH DUE TO THE NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS THAT HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED. 

A VERDICT IS EXPECTED IN LATE DECEMBER. 

FOR SAN – I’M LAUREN TAYLOR. 

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