Frenchman in mass rape trial again excused from hearing — judge

Trigger warning: Rape

AVIGNON, France — A Frenchman on trial for recruiting strangers to rape his heavily sedated wife was on Wednesday once again excused from attending a hearing over poor health, the presiding judge said.

Dominique Pelicot, a 71-year-old retiree accused of enlisting dozens of strangers to rape his drugged wife and filming the assaults, was set to undergo a medical examination later in the day.

He looked visibly weak as he arrived at Vaucluse Criminal Court in Avignon, leaning on a cane.

Roger Arata, the presiding judge, was set to decide if the extraordinary trial should continue or be temporarily suspended.

"I'm ordering an expert report," Arata said.

"I'm excusing Mr Pelicot for the day," he announced, after obtaining the agreement of the civil parties and the public prosecutor.

Pelicot was initially due to be cross-examined on Tuesday afternoon, but on Monday he was excused from court over abdominal pain and on Tuesday was still in bad health.

However the judge had announced the day earlier that the Pelicot was due back in court on Wednesday.

Pelicot has been on trial since last week, along with 50 other men, aged between 26 and 74, for alleged involvement, in a case that has horrified France.

If his condition improves, Pelicot could testify on Thursday afternoon, said the judge.

If he speaks on Thursday, it will be in connection with the case of one of his co-defendants, identified as Jean-Pierre M., 63.

Jean-Pierre M. is the only defendant who is not standing trial for the rape of Gisele Pelicot. Instead, he is being tried for seeking to emulate Dominique Pelicot and raping his own companion, with Pelicot's help.

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