Shocking Trial of Frenchman Accused of Drugging and Abusing Wife Postponed

The testimony of Dominique Pelicot, a 71-year-old Frenchman accused of drugging his wife and recruiting strangers to rape her, was postponed due to his health issues. Pelicot, on trial for a decade of abuse, offered sex with his wife online. Fifty other men are also implicated in the case.

The highly anticipated testimony of Dominique Pelicot, accused of drugging his wife and recruiting strangers to rape her over a decade, was postponed on Wednesday after the presiding judge accepted that he was still unwell.

Pelicot, the key defendant in a case that has sent shockwaves through France, was expected to testify following a postponement earlier this week when he was hospitalized. 71-year-old Pelicot has been on trial for repeated rapes and enabling strangers to abuse his sedated wife over ten years.

The court granted defense lawyer Beatrice Zavarro's request to excuse Pelicot, who appeared frail and reliant on a cane, from testifying. Zavarro explained her client was in significant pain and couldn't endure a full day hearing after showing potential symptoms of a bladder infection since Friday.

Pelicot was sent back to jail for a medical evaluation, and the timeline for his court testimony remains unclear. Prosecutors revealed Pelicot advertised sex with his wife on a website and documented the abuse. Fifty other men who participated are also on trial.

According to Zavarro, Pelicot has confessed to his crimes, with some co-defendants admitting guilt and others claiming they thought the wife was pretending to be asleep. If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in prison.

(With inputs from agencies.)