News Americas, New York, NY, Mon. October 21, 2024: A Caribbean-born man is among 50 men charged in a disturbing case in France where a woman is alleged to have been drugged and raped by dozens of men over nearly a decade.
Joan Kwai, 26, originally from French Guiana, is on trial as part of a group of men accused of sexually assaulting Gisele Pelicot, 71, after being invited to her home by her husband, Dominique Pelicot.
The case has attracted global attention due to the horrific nature of the crimes. According to court testimony, Dominique Pelicot, a retired electrician, drugged his unsuspecting wife between 2011 and 2020, allowing other men to rape her while she was unconscious. Kwai, who moved to France at the age of 16, first visited the house on his daughter’s birthday in 2019. He admitted he had visited a second time and admitted he planned a third visit , which was cancelled.
Prosecutors revealed that Kwai initially claimed he did not question whether Ms Pelicot had consented, but later admitted she was unconscious and that it was rape. Kwai, described as having depressive tendencies, is the first of the accused to give evidence at the trial.
Ms Pelicot has given up her anonymity to become a symbol of strength for rape survivors in France. She bravely faced the courtroom in Avignon, where she was often greeted with applause from supporters.
The trial involves a total of 50 men, divided into smaller groups to manage the court proceedings. Fourteen of the accused have admitted their involvement, while the rest, including men from various professions, deny the charges and claim they were duped by Dominique Pelicot.
Dominique Pelicot was arrested in September 2020 after he was caught filming women without their consent in a supermarket. A search of his home revealed thousands of incriminating photos and videos. In addition to this case, Pelicot faces charges of raping and murdering a 23-year-old real estate agent in Paris in 1991.
The trial is expected to last until December, with heightened security due to public anger and tensions surrounding the case.
