The depraved husband who allegedly drugged his wife and allowed at least 50 men to rape her failed to appear in court yesterday after being taken to hospital.
Dominique Pelicot, 71, was due to testify at the shocking trial that has shocked France.
But in another dramatic twist to the case, the grandfather, nicknamed the “Monster of Avignon”, failed to appear in court because he was “too ill”.
His ex-wife Gisele Pelicot, 71, was clearly distraught when Judge Roger Arata revealed that the defendant had been transferred from prison to hospital and would not be questioned that day.
At the family bench, heads shook in apparent disbelief as their lawyer, Beatrice Zavarro, insisted their absence was not a “ploy.”
Gisele Pelicot faces reporters as she leaves the courtroom flanked by her sons Florian (back) and David (right) after attending a session of the trial of her ex-partner Dominique Pelicot accused of drugging her for nearly ten years and inviting strangers to rape her at his home in Mazan, a small town in southern France, at the courthouse in Avignon, Monday
Gisele Pelicot arrives at the court in Avignon, France, on Tuesday, accompanied by her sons Fliran (left) and David (right)
He said Pelicot appeared to be suffering from renal colic, a painful condition that can be treated with minimally invasive surgery to remove blocked kidney stones. He added: “Let’s be clear about this. Monsieur Pelicot has not shirked (the process) and he will not do so.”
“He’ll be here. He’ll answer all the questions, but he can’t control what happens to his body. He didn’t plan to be sick. He’s not a robot.”
As Ms Pelicot and her children objected to evidence being given in her absence, the judge said the trial might have to be adjourned, meaning it might not have concluded before Christmas as planned.
However, the court heard last night that Pelicot should be fit to appear today, although it is unclear whether he will take the stand.
As Mrs Pelicot left the Avignon court dejected, the Daily Mail asked her lawyer Antoine Camus whether he suspected her ex-husband might be faking illness.
Caroline, the daughter of Gisele Pelicot, who was allegedly drugged and raped by men at the request of her husband Dominique Pelicot, walks in court in Avignon, France, on Tuesday.
Dominique Pelicot is accused of recruiting men online to assault his wife repeatedly over a 10-year period
“The judge has ordered a medical examination. I think that should remove any ambiguity,” he said. “It is very important for the children (of Pelicot), who have not yet testified, that their father is present in the dock to hear what they have to say.”
During the morning session, Pelicot’s daughter, Caroline Peyronnet, 45, again fled the court in tears as a detective gave harrowing details of the alleged rapes.
Between 2011 and 2020, the retired electrician is alleged to have systematically drugged his wife until she was unconscious and invited dozens of strangers to his home to rape her on camera.
He faces up to 20 years in prison along with 50 other defendants, all charged with “aggravated rape” of Ms. Pelicot.
Earlier this week, during the trial it emerged that he had told a psychologist that he had committed the sickening crimes because his wife did not want to abuse her. The case is continuing.
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