In France, two thirds of rapes occur in private homes, as highlighted by a historic mass rape trial

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00:00It is a historic and harrowing trial that has hit the halfway mark.

00:05With Gisèle Pellicot on the stand again to answer questions about the rapes that she endured,

00:10many of the accused rapists say they were manipulated by Pellicot's husband, Dominique,

00:15and therefore not guilty.

00:17For his lawyer, that's not true.

00:20He says he is a rapist, like the other 50 accused.

00:24Placing yourself on the same level as the other accused

00:27means that you are in the same role as them without minimizing any form of responsibility.

00:32Dominique Pellicot has never tried to minimize anything,

00:35but he's always contested the claim that he's a manipulator and a liar,

00:38or that he did not explain the situation to the men who had come to abuse his wife.

00:43Even if there is video proof of men repeatedly abusing a drugged and inert Gisèle Pellicot,

00:4835 of the men on trial say they are not guilty of raping the 72-year-old.

00:54Denials that have elicited outrage across France,

00:57but also raise questions and a reckoning about how some men view consent,

01:01and about rape culture in France.

01:04With husbands, fathers, grandfathers, workers and retirees among the accused,

01:09the mass trial has led to a breaking down of preconceived notions about rape.

01:14For most rapes do not happen in back alleys by strangers.

01:18In France, two-thirds of rapes occur in private homes,

01:21and the vast majority of victims know they're rapists.

01:25The trial has also led to an outpouring of support and solidarity for Gisèle Pellicot,

01:30with her courage and strength applauded by strangers on a nearly daily basis,

01:35as she seeks for the shame associated with rape to switch sides.

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