Verdict in French mass rape trial expected on Thursday

The trial of a French man and dozens of strangers who he enlisted to rape his heavily-sedated wife has adjourned for deliberations ahead of a verdict later this week, the presiding judge said.

"We will head to the deliberation chamber and will not leave until we have made our decision," Roger Arata told the court, saying the delivery of the verdict had been scheduled for Thursday morning while cautioning the timing was "theoretical" and it could be postponed to Thursday afternoon or Friday morning.

In a trial that shocked the country, Dominique Pelicot, 72, has admitted to drugging his then wife Gisele Pelicot for almost a decade so he and strangers he recruited online could rape her.

Gisele Pelicot, 72, has become a feminist hero at home and abroad for refusing to be ashamed, waiving her right to a closed trial and standing up to her aggressors in court.

Alongside her ex-husband, 50 other men aged 27 to 74 are on trial, including one who did not abuse her but raped his own wife with Mr Pelicot's help.

Sitting in the glass defendants' box, Dominique Pelicot reaffirmed that he had told "the whole truth" since the beginning of the trial on 2 September in the southern French city of Avignon.

He also thanked the court for allowing him to remain seated on a special chair because of his fragile state of health, which "could have been interpreted as nonchalance" but which was not, he added.

He added that "I have been called many things" but "I rather intend to be forgotten," saying he felt an "inner shame".

"I can tell my whole family that I love them," he said.

Turning to the five judges who will issue the verdict, he said: "There you go, you have the rest of my life in your hands."

He also hailed the courage of his ex-wife.

"I would like to start by hailing the courage of my ex-wife".

"I regret what I did, making (my family) suffer... I ask them for forgiveness," he said, asking the family to "accept my apologies".

As she left the court, Gisele Pelicot was greeted with applause and shouts of "bravo Gisele!" by supporters.

On 25 November, prosecutors requested the maximum possible sentence - 20 years behind bars - against Dominique Pelicot for aggravated rape.

The prosecution has requested ten to 18 years in prison against the 49 defendants also charged with aggravated rape.

One more accused - facing the lesser charge of groping - faces up to four years in prison.

Several defence lawyers have attempted to shift the totality of the responsibility to Dominique Pelicot, arguing their clients were victims of a "monster" who had manipulated them into assaulting Gisele Pelicot.