A French judge on Friday made part of the video recording of the alleged rape available to the public in the trial of dozens of men accused of repeatedly drugging and assaulting unconscious women by their ex-husbands. I decided to make it public. .
The decision by Judge Roger Arata in Avignon, southern France, to allow journalists and members of the public watching the trial to view the recording marked a stunning reversal in a case that has shocked France.
The trial began during a two-week courtroom in which journalists watching the trial and lawyers for Gisele Perico, who was allegedly raped over a 10-year period, argued that the video was essential to fully understand the extraordinary trial. It took place after a struggle.
Perico, 71, has become a symbol of France’s fight against sexual violence. She has insisted that the trial be held in public, contrary to the court’s suggestion that it be held behind closed doors.
Since the hearings began on September 2, Perricotte has met with her ex-husband Dominic Perricotte and the other 49 rapists almost every day. She has been praised for her courage and calmness, for speaking calmly and clearly, and for allowing victims in rape trials to have their full names published, which is unusual under French law.
Her insistence that the video recorded by her ex-husband and submitted as evidence in the trial – in which men are seen sexually abusing her helpless body – be made available to the public is that the trial could set a national example. It tells the story of her wishes. one of her lawyers told The Associated Press.
“This is a unique case. There is no representation of rape. There are dozens, hundreds of videos of rape,” said lawyer Stéphane Babonneau. “Giselle Perico thinks we need this shock wave so that no one can say afterwards, ‘I didn’t know this was rape.'”
Perico’s lawyers say the explicit footage played during the trial is particularly important as it highlights the difficulties faced by victims of sexual violence in France, as the majority of defendants deny the rape charges. It states that.
Some of the defendants claim that Ms. Pericotto’s husband cheated on her, while others claim that he forced her to have sex with her and that she was terrified. Still others argue that they believed she had consented, or that her husband’s consent was sufficient.
Lawyers say the video speaks for itself.
With Friday’s decision, Arata overturned a Sept. 20 ruling that videos could only be shown privately on a case-by-case basis. At the time, he argued that it undermined the “dignity” of public hearings.
The next day, the French Association of Judiciary Reporters, supported by Perico’s lawyers, appealed the decision.
Previously, journalists and members of the public had to leave the courtroom each time a video was shown.
Journalist Jean-Philippe Deniot, who covers the judiciary for France Inter Radio and has been following the trial, says the video is essential for the public to understand the case.
Some of the evidence he’s seen in the past wouldn’t make him any more upset, he said. “There are always difficult moments when working on trials involving terrorist attacks, crimes and murders,” Deniau said.
As an example, he testified that earlier this week he had come to the Pericot home in Provence to have consensual sex and that he was participating in a “game” to see if he could wake Gisele Pericot. He noted that he had heard the testimony of several defendants. above.
Following Friday’s ruling, Deniau said one four-minute recording from the video collection was shown in court later that day. Deniau said his opinion appears to refute the defendants’ contention that the video was a consensual “game.”
