Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

The court president decided to suspend today’s session even though lawyers from the defence still had questions for Dominique Pelicot, saying it was clear the defendant was tired.

He wasn’t the only one.

Today was an incredibly long day in court, and an emotionally charged one, too. Gisèle Pelicot spelled out the devastation that her ex-husband's crimes wreaked on her life.

Her daughter, Caroline, could not stop herself from shouting that her father was a liar when he denied ever abusing her - something she is convinced of based on photos that were found on his laptop.

Dominique himself revisited what he said was a deeply traumatic childhood in which he said he was raped and made to witness a rape at a young age.

And each statement or question by the lawyers was dotted with incredibly graphic detail of abuse and violence, all of which most people in court - whether staff, judges, lawyers or journalists - have been exposed to every day for over two months.

Above all, though, today once more laid bare the deep trauma that has engulfed the Pelicot family and which - as Gisèle herself said - may never be healed.

We’re pausing our live coverage for today – you can read the full story of what happened in court today here, or read how it unfolded below.

And if you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line

Warning: This post contains distressing details

Image source, Reuters

"I don't think I'll ever feel at peace until the end of my life."

That's what Gisèle Pelicot told the court on Tuesday when she was given the chance to respond to the weeks of evidence in the mass rape trial being heard in Avignon.

Her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, has admitted to drugging and raping his ex-wife, and inviting dozens of men to abuse her for over a decade at their home in Mazan.

Some of the 50 admit raping Gisèle Pelicot, but the majority do not.

In her fourth address to the court during this trial, and speaking after the last defendant gave evidence, Gisèle condemned the accused as cowards and called for societal change.

Image source, Reuters

The proceedings saw heated exchanges as Dominique Pelicot was questioned about allegations he had naked pictures of his daughter Caroline on his computer.

He said he never “touched” her. “You’re lying,” she yelled out.

Dominique also told the court he was sexually abused as a child, but said that does not “excuse anything”.

He said wanted to control women, telling the court: "Here is my motive. You can do what you want with it."

And he told the court he did not "have the guts" to tell his wife about what he had done when it became clear it would come to light.

Dominique will continue to face questions in court tomorrow, when closing arguments are also due to begin.

Images have just been sent to us of Gisèle Pelicot leaving the court in Avignon with her son, Florian, and her lawyer by her side.

Image source, Reuters

The trial has just been adjourned for the day.

Dominique Pelicot has been questioned over the last couple of hours by various lawyers in the case. This afternoon's session also went through evidence from the investigation including police statements that he provided after his 2020 arrest.

The court will reconvene tomorrow at 09:00 local time (08:00 GMT), when he will face further questions.

As a reminder, Dominique has admitted the charges against him and will be sentenced on 20 December. Any co-defendants who are found guilty will be sentenced on the same day.

Stay with us - we'll have a round up of the key developments from the day with you shortly.

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

The lawyer asks Dominique Pelicot if there is "still any goodness" in him.

"I hope so," he says.

When he and the lawyer met, the lawyer says Dominique told her he adored and loved Gisèle.

Pelicot replies: "There have been two gods in my life: my mother for 18 years, my wife for 50."

The lawyer continues: "All the photos we've seen in our folders are horrible ugly photos. Even for us it's difficult after two and a half months to get up in the morning after everything we've seen... Ms Pelicot has said she used to have a happy life. It sounds like you did. Can you explain?"

Dominique does not give a clear answer.

The lawyer asks if he still loves his ex-wife.

Dominique's voice breaks as he replies: "I don't think that's reciprocated."

The lawyer says they are "trying to understand what has happened" to him. "Is it that you loved your wife too much?"

There are some groans from public and press at this.

"You may be partly right" he says.

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

Another lawyer has begun questioning Dominique Pelicot, asking him whether he wants to be known as a "prolific" criminal.

Dominique rejects this suggestion, indicating that he doesn't want his family to suffer.

"When I come in here, people hurl insults at me - I'm hardly a star," he adds

He calls the co-defendants "accomplices" denying that he saw them as "trophies".

There's a sense of camaraderie between the co-defendants here, with some chattering between them.

Some are in the defendants' box, but not all of them are being held in custody.

We've just received our first sketch from today's proceedings in Avignon. It shows Gisèle Pelicot giving her closing statement this morning as her ex-husband watches on.

Image source, Reuters

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

The lawyer says Dominique Pelicot "joked" with his wife that her gynaecological problems were because she was having sex with other men.

Wasn't this also a way of manipulating her, she asks, calling the joke accusation "perverted".

The lawyer then says Gisèle Pelicot is "clearly" still under Dominique's control.

"Now, between her daughter Caroline and you, she still chooses you."

Gisèle shakes her head at that moment, but her daughter gave a slight smile.

This speaks to the tensions between Gisèle and Caroline, as Caroline clearly doesn't feel like her mother has taken her side.

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

The lawyer puts to Dominique that he taught others how to drug their wives.

"What happens in your head when you do these crimes several times a week for a decade?" she asks. "When you teach others to do the same?"

Dominique's response is that he was shown how to drug people by someone "who pretended he was a nurse".

"Stop blaming others," the lawyer tells him.

Asked how long he has been sick for, Dominique says he's "always had something in [him]" and tells the court that he has been seeking help for the last four years.

It's put to him that his brother said he was scared of him. Dominique says: "I'm not especially violent - I just defend myself when I'm attacked."

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

One of the defence lawyers asks Dominique Pelicot what he said to his wife after she found out about the 2020 upskirting incident.

This is when he knew it was likely the rest of his crimes would come to light, but before she knew.

"Did you really think of yourself as so almighty - when really you should've been quaking in your boots - that you could say to her: don't worry, it's all good, it's just a small thing?" the lawyer asks.

Pelicot says he "didn't feel almighty. I knew she would suffer."

The lawyer pushes him, asking if didn't think of warning his wife.

"I didn't have the guts... I am not as tough as you say. And believe me I didn't have a hold on her, she's not that kind of woman... I didn't have the courage to tell her what was happening."

He is asked when he knew the police would discover his crimes, why he continued to have men come to the house to abuse his wife.

He says the meetings were already arranged: "I knew I was a dead man walking anyway so I went ahead with them."

He adds he was worried the men would "threaten" him if he cancelled. As he says this, there are loud groans from the defendants.

The lawyer, sceptical, says: "I really feel for your family that is having to hear that you would rather not cancel those rendez-vous than look after your family members."

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

Continuing to be questioned by lawyers representing the various parties in the case, Dominique is now asked to give his definition of consent.

"When you have the agreement of the person you want to do something with," he responds.

He is also asked about the difference between violence and rape - with the lawyer referencing that he used sleeping pills with Gisèle.

Dominique turns to his childhood experience which is something he also referenced earlier.

He uses the example of "beatings" - saying he never did this to his wife.

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

The lawyer asks why Dominique Pelicot did not delete incriminating files when his "time was up", after one of the upskirting incidents.

Feebly, Pelicot replies: "I wanted to tell my wife … I didn't have the courage as I didn't want to lose everything."

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from the court in Avignon

Dominique Pelicot takes the court back to the suggestion that he is the "conductor" of the situation - it's something Gisèle called him earlier today.

"To be honest, if they [the other defendants] weren't here, I wouldn't be here either," he says, to noise from the defendants' side of the courtroom.

"Do you admit to manipulating them?" the lawyer asks.

"Absolutely not," Dominique responds.

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

The questioning returns momentarily to allegations that Dominique Pelicot had photos on his computer showing images of his daughter Caroline naked and partially clothed.

"In one of [the pictures] I don't event recognise the background," Dominique says.

This again prompts anger from Caroline, who shouts across the courtroom at her father: "It's my house!"

Earlier, Dominique denied that he ever "touched" Caroline. And she called out, calling him a liar.

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

Dominique Pelicot is questioned on the role of the other defendants accused of participating in the abuse.

He is asked why some of them would allege that he drugged or manipulated them if it wasn't true - to which he responds "to save themselves".

He continues to say that he acknowledges what he did to his ex-wife - he admitted offences against Gisèle upon arrest - but again denies doing anything to his children or grandchildren.

"As for everyone else in this room, I'm just saying what happened.

"When you go to a casino and gamble and lose, you can't blame the casino," he says, apologising for the expression.

This comment prompts a chuckle from some in the courtroom, including some of the co-defendants.

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Avignon

A defence lawyer asks if Dominique Pelicot ever drugged any of the defendants - he has already admitted drugging Gisèle.

After a bit of a back and forth, Dominique says: "Sorry, but only some of them have said I drugged them.

"If it's something I'd do, why wouldn't I have done it to all of them? Answer me please."

The lawyer responds by telling Dominique "you're not the one asking questions in here".

There's a chuckle in the room.

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

The sheer emotion of that exchange clashes with the lawyers' questions, which have already resumed.

Questions are quite technical at the moment and include details on the medications Dominique used to give to Gisèle, the ways they would colour whatever drink he was putting them in.

The Pelicot family sits there in silence - their faces are anguished, but they stare ahead.

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

Warning: This post contains distressing details

Gisèle Pelicot's lawyer asks Dominique about files saved on his computer showing images of his daughter Caroline naked and partially clothed.

"I can tell her, looking at her straight in the eye, that I never touched her," he says, adding "Caroline, I never touched you."

Caroline shouts across the room: "You are lying. I am sick of your lies. You're alone in your lies, you will die lying."

They look at each other across the room. There is complete silence in the court.

He holds his head in his hands, and the rest of the family stays put.

Image source, Reuters

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from court in Avignon

Dominique Pelicot says now there is still a "lot of work" that he needs to do.

He is stifling sobs and sniffling. His family sit on the other side of court looking at him.

The lawyers are now beginning their questioning.

Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Avignon

Warning: This post contains distressing details

Dominique Pelicot tells the court about sexual abuse and trauma from his childhood, but states that he is not saying these experiences "excuse anything".

He has spoken about this a lot with his psychiatrists since his arrest, he says.

"That caused a break in me. It lasted for life," he tells the court.

He adds he wanted to control women. "Here is my motive. You can do what you want with it."