Jean-Pierre M. says he 'deserves life in prison'
“I admit the facts”, Jean-Pierre M., one of the 18 detained accused, stated soberly at the opening of the trial (editor's note: another 32 appear free, the 51st is on the run). The accused, who is due to speak on Thursday, “says he deserves life in prison.
Dominique Pélicot was absent until Monday
The court tells us Wednesday afternoon that the main accused, Dominique Pélicot, will be absent “at least” until Monday.
Several defendants experienced childhoods marked by domestic violence
After Jean-Pierre M., the court then heard a personality investigator discuss the cases of Cyrille D., 54, and Jacques C., 72, both accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot, once each. These two men also have in common the fact that they lived childhoods marked by domestic violence, before adult lives presented by their loved ones as “normal”, investing in their work, at home, with quite rich lives.
One of the co-defendants, Jean-Pierre M., says he was “raised by pigs”
And it was a very difficult childhood for the accused that was exposed: “I was brought up by pigs, in the forest”, he explained to his children, while remaining very secretive about the details of his life in a family of ten, on a farm. The children were beaten, “tied naked to trees all night” and the father “organized orgies in front of his children”, said his lawyer, Me Patrick Gontard.
Profiles of three co-defendants examined by the criminal court
After Jean-Pierre M., the court must then hear personality investigators and a psychiatric expert on three other co-defendants, Cyrille D., 54, Lionel R., 44, and Jacques C., 72 , all accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot.
Jean-Pierre M., the “disciple” of Dominique Pelicot
The criminal court of Vaucluse examined this morning the case of Jean-Pierre M., the only one of the 51 accused in the Mazan rape trial, prosecuted not for the rape of the wife of the main accused, but of his own wife. “I admit the facts,” indicated soberly Jean-Pierre M., one of the 18 detained accused, at the opening of the trial. His partner, who has not filed a civil suit “to protect her children,” could speak about the facts Wednesday afternoon.
The 51 accused begin to take the stand
The Mazan rape trial began this morning to address the individual profiles of the 51 accused. This is the case of Jean-Pierre M., this 63-year-old man is a former truck driver in an agricultural cooperative. The president of the criminal court read the report of the personality investigator, then the testimonies of his children. And it was a very difficult childhood for the accused it was revealed: “I was raised by pigs, in the forest,” he explained, as his son confirmed. “The facts are very serious, I think he is aware of that. This trial will be a relief, I encourage him to turn himself in,” the son said. One certainty in any case for him: “I have a deep conviction that if he had not met this person (Editor's note: Dominique Pelicot), this would never have happened.”
“I found a man twisted in pain”
Dominique Pélicot's lawyer testified this morning on BFMTV about her client's brief return and his return behind bars. “I found a man twisted in pain, really suffering,” explained Me Béatrice Zavarro. she says her client is “a man who never shied away.” The lawyer adds: “I would have liked him to speak in the presence” of Gisèle Pélicot.
When will Dominique Pélicot testify?
Originally scheduled for Tuesday, Dominique Pélicot's hearing had been postponed until Wednesday. It is now postponed until Thursday afternoon if possible. The Mazan rape trial schedule, which began on Monday, September 2, is already seriously disrupted.
Brief appearance by Dominique Pélicot
Dominique Pélicot made a brief appearance in the dock this morning. The main accused in the Mazan rape trial arrived with a cane, before sitting painfully on the bench. His lawyer applied for a waiver of appearance for his client, which the presiding judge of the criminal court granted. “He vomited again, felt sick and told me he had kidney pain,” explained Me Béatrice Zavarro. The President ordered a forensic examination to be carried out during the day.
A large and disgusted audience
Denied access, due to lack of seats, to the courtroom of the Mazan rape trial, a large audience watches the proceedings at the Avignon Court, in another, neighboring courtroom, where the proceedings are broadcast on three television screens. They are men, women, young or old, law students or retirees. Some widen their eyes, put a hand over their mouth, or shake their heads “no” when the investigator mentions what he describes as “pretty impressive sordidness.” “I don't feel well, I'm disgusted,” Robert, a retired Marseille firefighter, explained Tuesday as he left the room. “It's terrible,” confirms Noël, a “retired mechanic.”
Gisèle Pélicot will perhaps speak again
The president of the Vaucluse criminal court Roger Arata leaves the door open for a new speech by Gisèle Pelicot, the ex-wife, who had already given an emotional testimony last Thursday.
Dominique Pélicot will return to his trial
Absent for 2 days for medical reasons – he was suffering from intestinal pain – the main accused in the Mazan rape trial, Dominique Pelicot, will return to the Vaucluse departmental criminal court on Wednesday. “We have a medical certificate issued today” stating that there is “no contraindication to daily activities and transfers” of the septuagenarian between the penitentiary where he is held and the Avignon court, court president Roger Arata said on Tuesday late afternoon.
Welcome to our live
Watch the Mazan rape trial live this Wednesday, September 11, 2024, before the Vaucluse departmental criminal court.