The Mazan rape trial is entering its home stretch. After hearing the 51 accused during eleven weeks of hearings, the Vaucluse criminal court gave the victim a final say on Tuesday, November 19. The septuagenarian, who declared during her first testimony in September to have been “sacrificed on the altar of vice”will notably answer questions from the defense. “Since the start of this trial, I have heard a lot of inaudible, unacceptable things”declared Gisèle Pélicot. “For me, it’s the trial of cowardice. The trial of Gisèle Pelicot is the trial of cowardice.” Follow our live stream.
“You were the devil himself!” The tone rose at the hearing on Monday when Dominique Pelicot's sons spoke directly to their father. “Why did you do that? Why did you lend our mother like that?” asked Florian, 38, the youngest of the siblings. “You always said our mother was a saint. But you were the devil himself.”he castigated. They called Dominique Pelicot to say “the truth” concerning their sister Caroline, the latter being certain of having suffered the same fate as her mother, despite the absence of proof.
The last accused have been heard. Philippe L. is the last accused to answer questions from the criminal court on Tuesday morning. Every week, these men aged 26 to 72 were questioned in groups of five, six or seven. The majority of them do not recognize the facts, denying having intended to rape Gisèle Pelicot, despite the multiple videos found on her ex-husband's hard drive. These were broadcast in public, at the request of the victim, who wanted this trial to be public, “so that shame changes sides”.
“I don’t know how I’m going to rebuild myself.” During her second testimony on October 23, Gisèle Pelicot explained that she wanted to publicize her case to “Let us change this society”. “I don’t know how I’m going to rebuild myself, get over all this”declared the 71-year-old victim, before addressing her ex-husband, without looking at him. “How could he betray me so much? How could you bring people into my bedroom?” she asked him. And to conclude: “I have always tried to pull you upwards, towards the light. You have chosen the depths of the human soul.”