Catherine Porter

Well, it meant that I could be in the courtroom together with many other journalists. I'm inside the courthouse now. It's a big room. There's a raised bench behind which five judges and two prosecutors sit. And then the very wide box that was built specially for this trial into the room. The courtroom was nothing like a courtroom I've ever reported in.

It had been retrofitted for all of these accused. The defendants are starting to come in. Many have hats, sunglasses, and surgical masks on to try and protect their identities. And what's really noticeable is they appear to be full range of ages. styles, looks. Some are very skinny and gaunt. The other I'm looking at has quite a big paunch.

It had been retrofitted for all of these accused. The defendants are starting to come in. Many have hats, sunglasses, and surgical masks on to try and protect their identities. And what's really noticeable is they appear to be full range of ages. styles, looks. Some are very skinny and gaunt. The other I'm looking at has quite a big paunch.

It's a full spectrum and you really get that sense sitting here where I'm looking around that just all, it's like being in a bus. All sorts of people.

It's a full spectrum and you really get that sense sitting here where I'm looking around that just all, it's like being in a bus. All sorts of people.

They're sitting all around me as a journalist in the back of the room, but also right up against Madame Pellico, who's sitting against one wall behind her two lawyers, and in front of her and all around her are the accused men who were charged with raping her.

They're sitting all around me as a journalist in the back of the room, but also right up against Madame Pellico, who's sitting against one wall behind her two lawyers, and in front of her and all around her are the accused men who were charged with raping her.

The enormity of the crime, the number of men, but also what I was saying before, just the fact that you really sort of physically and literally can see this idea of Mr. Everyman.

The enormity of the crime, the number of men, but also what I was saying before, just the fact that you really sort of physically and literally can see this idea of Mr. Everyman.

Yeah. Madame Pellico comes in that first day with her two lawyers and her three children trailing behind her. And she literally embodies this idea of not being ashamed. She's so dignified. What do you mean? Well, you know, just imagine... And this would be a moment of great nervousness, of fury, of anger, of probably emotional crisis.

Yeah. Madame Pellico comes in that first day with her two lawyers and her three children trailing behind her. And she literally embodies this idea of not being ashamed. She's so dignified. What do you mean? Well, you know, just imagine... And this would be a moment of great nervousness, of fury, of anger, of probably emotional crisis.

And yet, from the first moment, Madame Pellicot has been literally the picture of poise and grace everywhere. and calm. She's like a classic Parisian grandmother. Her clothing is perfectly appointed, not too beautiful, but also just neat and tidy. Her hair, she's got a nice bob. Her head is held high.

And yet, from the first moment, Madame Pellicot has been literally the picture of poise and grace everywhere. and calm. She's like a classic Parisian grandmother. Her clothing is perfectly appointed, not too beautiful, but also just neat and tidy. Her hair, she's got a nice bob. Her head is held high.

And when she took the stand the first day, she described how her life had fallen apart that morning when she stepped into the police station and how She is making this decision that she wanted France to look at rape straight, and she thought that this was the time for the country to have a big conversation around what it means to be raped and how prevalent it is.

And when she took the stand the first day, she described how her life had fallen apart that morning when she stepped into the police station and how She is making this decision that she wanted France to look at rape straight, and she thought that this was the time for the country to have a big conversation around what it means to be raped and how prevalent it is.

Yeah, she says this out loud. And not only does she say this, she and her lawyers... fight to have these videos play in court, in the public. Videos of her sexual assault? Videos of her sexual assaults, many of them, because many of the men are denying that this was rape. They're basically saying they believed that she had consented to this and that they hadn't intended to rape her.

Yeah, she says this out loud. And not only does she say this, she and her lawyers... fight to have these videos play in court, in the public. Videos of her sexual assault? Videos of her sexual assaults, many of them, because many of the men are denying that this was rape. They're basically saying they believed that she had consented to this and that they hadn't intended to rape her.

And here they have, unlike most rape victims, they have evidence of what had exactly happened in that room. They have videos.

And here they have, unlike most rape victims, they have evidence of what had exactly happened in that room. They have videos.

She's making sure that every graphic, horrific detail of this case is aired publicly. And you know, when they are played in court, this real awkward silence descends And after a few minutes, many journalists stopped looking at the screens because it's so... Uncomfortable. Her snores are filling the courtroom.