‘I was convinced it was a game': Defendants begin testifying at Pelicot rape trial gripping France

This post was originally published on France24

The trial of 51 men for the rape of Gisèle Pelicot began in earnest on Thursday as the first defendants took the stand. Their testimony included expressions of regret along with more ambiguous statements regarding their awareness of their victim’s vulnerable state. The recurring question was how the accused could not have been aware of a sleeping woman’s lack of consent.