Catherine Porter

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.

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.

It's just, she is, I mean, one of the doctors in the case described her as a corpse. And she sits there throughout. I have never seen her leave the courtroom while one of those videos is playing.

It's just, she is, I mean, one of the doctors in the case described her as a corpse. And she sits there throughout. I have never seen her leave the courtroom while one of those videos is playing.

I mean, most cases of rape are he said, she said. But here is there's a library of proof. And yet, most of the men say what almost every man says in defense when it comes to rape, that they thought she was consenting. Most of them say that they had not come to rape her, but that Mr. Pelico had invited them over for a threesome.

I mean, most cases of rape are he said, she said. But here is there's a library of proof. And yet, most of the men say what almost every man says in defense when it comes to rape, that they thought she was consenting. Most of them say that they had not come to rape her, but that Mr. Pelico had invited them over for a threesome.

And had either explained to them that she was pretending to sleep and it was part of their fantasy that she be woken up by this stranger together with her husband. Or some say that... They were told that she had taken a few sleeping pills just as they got there to help her relax because she was shy. And a few by the end were saying that they believe that Mr. Pellico had also drugged them.

And had either explained to them that she was pretending to sleep and it was part of their fantasy that she be woken up by this stranger together with her husband. Or some say that... They were told that she had taken a few sleeping pills just as they got there to help her relax because she was shy. And a few by the end were saying that they believe that Mr. Pellico had also drugged them.