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00:00Looking weak and leaning on a cane, Dominique Pellicot appeared in a courtroom in Avignon Wednesday.
00:06The 71-year-old was due to testify in a case that has shocked France.
00:11But the judge postponed his testimony after the defendant's attorney explained that Pellicot was unable to endure a full day in court because of his poor health.
00:21Dominique Pellicot is indeed physically present today.
00:25Psychologically, he is not in good shape.
00:28And physically, he's still in a lot of pain and I feel he's very, very weak.
00:32And I feel he's in no way able to handle a full day of court.
00:36Sitting on a chair, waiting for his turn to speak and to be really fit to answer all of the questions.
00:44Dominique Pellicot has admitted to charges that he recruited dozens of men to rape his heavily sedated wife over a decade.
00:53Prosecutors say he drugged Giselle Pellicot with sleeping pills and filmed the acts involving 72 men, 50 of whom have been identified.
01:03The defendants range in age from 26 to 74.
01:09The presiding judge said the hearings would continue in spite of the defendant's absence.
01:14But Giselle Pellicot's attorney had argued the defendant must be present for the proceedings.
01:20The question that arises is how can this trial continue if Dominique Pellicot is not present?
01:26There can't be a trial if Pellicot's health and his ability to stand trial are not guaranteed.
01:32The judge ordered Dominique Pellicot to undergo a medical examination, saying he could not appear in court until Monday at the earliest
01:40and would consider temporarily suspending the trial on Thursday.
01:44Pellicot and the other defendants face up to 20 years in prison if they're convicted.