Gisele Pelicot defendants described

Lescole, the firefighter, had images of child sexual abuse.

The sob stories of these men have been absolutely mind blowing.

But this last one is interesting. I think it actually reflects a reality of sorts - so so many men, even the so-called "good ones" just deep down believe women are lesser. That they can be good men even as they treat women badly because that's not "real" somehow. I can't explain it but I see it all the time (obviously at a much less harmful level). It's the low lying misogyny and assumptions that are just hardwired into society and accepted.

One of them, Christian Lescole, a firefighter who has 2 daughters, is now claiming that he and the other men "must have been drugged" because they cannot believe they would do such a thing. You've heard of women being Drug raped, now men are doing Drug raping ? Oh NOES.🙄

“I have no future left. I spent my life protecting people. I never had a problem with justice before,” said Mr. Lescole. In contrast to many other defendants, he was relatively loquacious during his testimony.
Since the court case began in early September, Mr. Lescole has attended regularly, sitting in one of two prisoners’ boxes, often stroking his long beard while watching intensely. He was there in search of some existential answers, he said, “because this is not me. This doesn’t reflect my values. How did I get here?”
During the trial, he said he counted 18 men who’d said they’d been offered a drink by Mr. Pelicot after arriving at the Pelicots’ home. He now says he believes they’d all been drugged. He told the court he had no memory after stepping inside the bedroom.
“I have big doubts about my free will at that moment,” he said.
“Materially, I committed a rape,” he added. “But it was my body, not my brain.”

It absolutely terrifies me that there are so many men like this in the world. It's just terrifying for me and my daughters.

New York Times article (might be paywalled) actually gives some of the f**kers full names

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/france-mass-rape-pelicot.html

Interesting. Makes me wonder why the Guardian didn't also.

Just put Radio 4 on - being discussed rn

'Defence lawyer De Palma caused controversy earlier in the trial when he said that “rape is not always rape”, and argued that “without the intention of committing rape, there is no rape".'

Crikey!

I'm still wondering how Dominique got hold of all those sedatives.

This is not a new slogan, it predates the GP trial, but oh how relevant now!
'Shame should switch sides'

Gisèle Pelicot has been questioned by defence lawyers - only doing their job, of course, but it's hard to take. She maintains her courageous attitude.
Yes, we WILL remember Gisèle Pelicot.

Gisèle has been questioned by multiple lawyers today. The last to cross-examine her asked about her decision to continue using the surname "Pelicot".
Gisèle explains that when the trial began her children were "ashamed" of the name.
She adds: "I have grandchildren who are called that.
"Today, I want them to be proud of their grandmother.
"My name is known across the world now. They shouldn't be ashamed of carrying that name.
"Today we will remember Gisèle Pelicot."
Gisèle Pelicot closing statement: I couldn't imagine my husband was capable of drugging me, victim tells mass rape trial - BBC News

Gisèle is giving evidence today. The defending lawyers don’t seem to be covering themselves in glory.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c4gpxwd8z1xt

Horrifying isn't it? Its hard to actually put into words the revulsion this causes. When you read about the behaviour and how willing these men were, it's like it was a commonplace thing for them. There's not a lot of remorse is there?

This was my first thought. They knew they didn't have Gisele's consent. They went to a forum called "without her knowledge" bc they got off on raping women and it seemed like the easiest and least risky way to do so. Plus her husband will be their audience, which some will get off on too.

It's very hard to read. Gisele awes me with her courage and tenacity. She's an inspiration and I think her for what she is doing for rape victims everywhere.

All those men either enjoyed the power trip of raping the woman and/or genuinely saw her as property of the man. Pure misogyny. Their sob stories are simply attempts at a reduced sentence.

There's rape and there's rape, and without intent to commit it, it's not rape.
I suppose this goes to mens rea and actus reus (do they have the same concept in French law?).
Although the counter-argument is, what DID you intend to do/think you were doing; or, put another way, did you really think she wanted sex with you?

I think the little sob stories, perhaps through repetition, actually demonstrate how empty and lacking they are as justifications for what they did. 'I raped this unconscious woman because...erm...💡'. As excuses they're all various flavours of pathetic. Seeing them lined up like that in their little vignettes really underlines it. I don't know if that was the Guardian's intent

Eta the ones who claim they thought it was a consensual kink, doesn't providing something as an excuse for being a damaged human who would rape, kind of undermine that?

What’s with the little sob stories at the end of each description?

Who gives a fuck? Why do you only ever see these excuses when people have done the most heinous things

^

Exactly. What about the women?? What about Gisele???

Yes, trust the fucking Guardian to solemnly centre their tales of woe.

Yes that sounds somewhat more bathetic than he probably intended.

What’s with the little sob stories at the end of each description?

Who gives a fuck? Why do you only ever see these excuses when people have done the most heinous things

^

Exactly. What about the women?? What about Gisele???

Agreed, they just cover up for each other. We need to ask the males in our lives, would you rape if you could get away with it and when they say, probably, then stop knowing them!

It’s probably part of the #BeKind BS the Guardian pushes out. Some of the hard-left people I’ve known have been vocally obsessed sympathetic to the childhood plights of rapists and murderers.

Many of them say "I am not a rapist" - so much denialism, so much lack of honesty and reflection.

I read the article, but feel horrified with the tone in the Guardian, all those justifications and excuses.

I read the full list. I’m astounded that some women are sticking with these men and one woman who had split up with one of them, wants to get back with him!

What struck me was how Giselle was viewed as the property of her husband. The view seemed to be that as he had given his consent then that was sufficient. She was not considered as a human being at all.

This

I couldn't get very far through. The way it was written was just enraging. Ye gads, there is no need to apply the old shit sandwich technique to these men!

Agree with you. Men do not take otters feelings into consideration unless it directly affects them. Very sad but true as I've experienced this many times with males around me. It's like they don't ever think, just focus on what they want and others can just deal with it. It's like a linear mode of thinking but women think of others, the future, the past and the details. Men just go for it, whatever it is and are mostly entitled and unapologetic. Selfish pricks mostly.
Hope they all get prison sentences to teach them a lesson 😔