Dominique Pelicot admitted to drugging his wife and recruiting dozens of strangers to rape her over nearly a decade, begging for his family's forgiveness, as he told a French court on Tuesday: "I am a rapist.

Dominique Pelicot, the Frenchman accused of drugging his wife and recruiting dozens of strangers to rape her over a decade, on Tuesday admitted to the various criminal charges he faces in a closely-watched trial,

Dominique Pelicot, a 71-year-old Frenchman accused of drugging his wife and recruiting dozens of strangers to rape her, will not take part in his trial this week because his health has deteriorated, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

"I am a rapist," said a Frenchman accused of drugging his wife so that he and dozens of strangers could sexually assault her, his first testimony in a trial that has horrified France.Gisele Pelicot requested that the trial be open to the public to raise awareness about the use of drugs to commit sexual abuse.

Lawyers for some of the men accused of raping an unconscious French woman who had been drugged by her husband have asked her about her habits, personality and sex life, and even questioned whether she

Gisele Pelicot, who was drugged and raped by dozens of men recruited by her husband, on Wednesday called the men standing trial "degenerates" while attempts from some defence lawyers to question her credibility caused outrage in the courtroom.

The mayor of the French town where a man for over a decade brought strangers to rape his wife apologised on Friday for remarks that were criticised for playing down the ordeal of the victim.Dominique Pelicot has admitted to drugging Gisele Pelicot into unconsciousness and inviting strangers to rape her.

The former wife of a Frenchman accused of enlisting strangers to rape her while she was drugged said Wednesday she felt humiliated during his trial, accusing some defence lawyers of claiming she was complicit in the abuse.