A friend of the Frenchman accused of raping many wives admits to abusing women in the same way

Dominique Pelicot, a Frenchman, drugged his wife and asked dozens of men to rape her for almost ten years. On Wednesday, one of Pelicot’s associates admitted to abusing his own partner and blamed his mentor and a troubled youth.

Police say 63-year-old Jean-Pierre Marechal worked with Pelicot to drug and rape Marechal’s wife Cilia. The two met on a website that is no longer valid.

Pelicot and 50 other men are on trial for raping his wife. The trial has shocked the whole world. Also, people all over France have taken to the streets to support Gisele Pelicot, who has become a symbol of the fight against sexual abuse.

On Tuesday, Pelicot admitted in court that he planned the group rape of his ex-wife. He asked for forgiveness and said that he hoped to win back his ex-partner, who filed for divorce after police told her about the rapes.

At the start of Wednesday, Marechal gave more upsetting evidence about how his father sexually abused him and his sisters.

He said Pelicot was the one who let out his inner monster.

“I’m sorry for what I did.” Marechal told the judge, “I love my wife.” This crime would not have been done if I had not met Mr. Pelicot. He made me feel better, like a cousin.

Marechal is not, however, accused of raping Gisele Pelicot. Pelicot is scheduled to appear later on Wednesday.

WEB MEETING

Authorities say Marechal met Pelicot on a website called Coco, where Pelicot showed Marechal pictures of his wife being raped by the men he had hired and told Marechal how he had drugged her.

Marechal told the judge in court that he found the website by accident and at first said no to Pelicot’s request to rape his wife, but then he gave in. The government says Pelicot gave Marechal’s wife drugs and raped her while Marechal looked on.

Pelicot admitted that he raped Marechal’s wife and said he felt bad about it. He also said that he stopped talking to her after she woke up while he was in her room. Prosecutors say Pelicot was caught in at least three of the 12 attacks on Marechal’s wife Cilia.

The 54-year-old woman is married to Marechal and has five children with him. She has stayed with him and not filed a criminal report.

Gisele Pelicot, 72, on the other hand, insisted on a public hearing to try to bring attention to her ex-husband and the 50 men he is accused of recruiting to rape her.