'I am a rapist', admits husband in French mass rape trial

Dominique Pelicot, the 71-year-old antheral accused of drugging his woman to slumber and recruiting dozens of men to maltreatment her for implicit 10 years, has admitted to each the charges against him successful his archetypal grounds since the proceedings opened connected 2 September.

Referring to the 50 co-defendants who are accused of raping his present ex-wife Gisele, Mr Pelicot said: "I americium a rapist similar the others successful this room."

"They each knew, they cannot accidental the contrary," helium said.

Of his ex-wife, helium said: "She did not merit this."

"I was precise blessed with her," helium told the court.

Gisele, who was fixed the accidental to respond soon after, said: "It is hard for maine to perceive to this. For 50 years, I lived with a antheral who I would've ne'er imagined could beryllium susceptible of this. I trusted him completely."

Mr Pelicot, who was diagnosed with a kidney corruption and kidney stones, was absent from tribunal for astir a week owed to illness. He is acceptable to springiness his grounds passim the day, though helium volition beryllium allowed predominant breaks.

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