Husband in France mass rape trial admits charges | BBC News

Warning: This story contains distressing details from the start.

Dominique Pelicot, the 71-year-old man accused of drugging his wife to sleep and recruiting dozens of men to abuse her for over 10 years, has admitted to all the charges against him in his first testimony since the trial opened on 2 September.

Referring to the 50 co-defendants who are accused of raping his now ex-wife Gisèle Pelicot, Pelicot said: "I am a rapist like the others in this room."

Although no cameras are allowed in court, the trial is open to the public at the request of Gisèle, who waived her right to anonymity at the beginning of the proceedings.

Her legal team said opening up the trial would shift the "shame" back on to the accused.

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