Gisèle Pelicot: Judge rules public can view French mass rape trial video evidence

The judge last month banned the broadcasting of such footage to the public and press on the grounds that the images were “shocking and indecent”.

However, he decided to lift the restrictions following calls from Ms Pelicot’s lawyers for the trial to be open to the public.

“If these same hearings, through their publicity, help prevent other women from having to go through this, then she will find meaning in her suffering,” one of Ms Pelicot’s lawyers, Stéphane Babonneau, said.

Mr Babonneau called the ruling “a victory in a fight that should not have been fought”, adding that rape victims had for decades in French law had the right to decide whether proceedings should be public.

The French press also campaigned for the ruling to be overturned. The judicial press association (APJ) warned of a “serious attack” on freedom of information.

The screening of video evidence was strongly opposed by lawyers for some of the 50 co-defendants who are accused of raping Mr Pelicot’s ex-wife.

“Justice does not need that in order to proceed, what is the point of these revolting screenings?” said lawyer Olivier Lantelme.