A second lawyer in the ‘Monsters of Avignon’ case who is representing some of the 82 men said to have raped Gisele Pelicot while she was drugged has posted a mocking message on social media, insulting the victim’s supporters.
Isabelle Crepin-Dehaene used her Linkedin profile to attack feminist supporters of Mrs Pelicot and to make derogatory remarks about one, MailOnline can reveal.
It comes just days after a second lawyer in the case, Nadia El Bouroumi, sparked outrage by posting a selfie video of her singing ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’.
The fallout from this sparked headlines around the world – but now MailOnline can reveal that Ms El Bouroumi’s lawyer colleague Isabelle Crepin-Dehaene has also courted controversy during the trial.
Ms Crepin-Dehaene, who is defending two alleged rapists, posted a photograph of the court in Avignon on her Linkedin page showing supporters of the victim Mrs Pelicot.
She wrote: ‘This morning, at the start of the Mazan (Pelicot village) trial in Avignon, twenty or so pseudo feminists with banners.
‘A lousy protest but they wanted to be there. I hope they didn’t get up too early and that they were back in time to pick up their children from school.’
Isabelle Crepin-Dehaene (pictured) used her Linkedin profile to attack feminist supporters of Gisele Pelicot and to make derogatory remarks about one, MailOnline can reveal
Ms El Bouroumi, pictured, has been criticised for her choice of song given the nature of the claims against her clients
Dominique Pelicot had admitted to the court his involvement in the decade long abuse against his wife Gisele (pictured) who he sedated, and which took place until 2020 at their home in the village of Mazan, half an hour from Avignon
She later also posted details of crowdfunding page in support of Mrs Pelicot which had been set up by French media personality Nabilla Benattia.
Ms Benattia, a reality TV star, had written in support of Mrs Pelicot, saying that had been very distressed by the details of the case, writing: ‘I’ve been having trouble sleeping for several days…’I can’t believe that a woman could have suffered so much.’
The post saluted Mrs Pelicot’s ‘courage and strength’, adding: ‘You are an example for all women.’
Donations quickly topped 30,000 Euro before Mrs Pelicot asked for them to stop.
But lawyer Ms Crepin-Dehaene had nothing but scorn for the fundraiser – and scathing remarks for its creator, Ms Benattia.
She wrote: ‘What a pity, she could have sold her plastic breasts.’
Ms Benattia did not respond to the comment but revealed she had spoken to Mrs Pelicot’s lawyers about her not wanting a fundraiser and all ‘donations would be refunded’.
She added: ‘We wish her a lot of courage in her ordeal and send her our love.’
Although Ms Crepin-Dehaene’s comments were later deleted, they came just days after MailOnline highlighted how a fellow defence lawyer, Ms El Bouroumi, had sparked fury with a video on her Instagram.
Ms El Bouroumi, who has more than 51,000 followers on social media, posted a video of herself in the front seat of her car, dancing to Wham’s 1980s hit as she flexed her muscles and pointed to her biceps.
She later said the video was a tongue in cheek dig at critics who were ‘trying to muzzle’ her and they would have to get up early to outsmart her.
The lawyer captioned the video: ‘To all the extremists who think they can muzzle me! This is for you!’
She also said: ‘Never will you shut me up because you feel my opinion or position doesn’t suit you…this song is for all those who have to get up early before they can shut me up.
‘I was beaten and raped when I was younger and I did not become hateful against man. I don’t confuse my story with anyone else’s.
‘All the well-thinkers who insult and denigrate me under the pretext of defending one woman are working hard on another! May God forgive us our trespasses!’
But lawyer Ms Crepin-Dehaene had nothing but scorn for the fundraiser – and scathing remarks for its creator, Ms Benattia. She wrote: ‘What a pity, she could have sold her plastic breasts’
Ms Crepin-Dehaene, who is defending two alleged rapists, posted a photograph of the court in Avignon on her Linkedin page showing supporters of the victim Mrs Pelicot. She wrote: ‘This morning, at the start of the Mazan (Pelicot village) trial in Avignon, twenty or so pseudo feminists with banners’
Nadia El Bouroumi, pictured, has dismissed criticism against her handling of the case
However, the connection between ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’s lyric with the modus operandi of Dominique Pelicot, who is said to have drugged his wife so at least 50 men could rape her, did not go amiss.
La Provence wrote: ‘The link between the chemical submission suffered by the victim was clear and hard not to see.’
Last week 27 graphic images, as well as three video clips were shown of Mrs Pelicot in various naked and semi naked poses with her ex-husband and other men, that had been seized from his devices s part of the investigation.
They were shown after Mrs Pelicot allowed them and there were raised eyebrows at the aggressive defence stance of Ms El Bouroumi following their display in the court which had been cleared of the public.
The lawyer raised her voice and said: ‘She (Mrs Pelicot) says she doesn’t remember, but those who have received photos of her can see that she is present there, she moves, she speaks.’
She added: ‘When you receive photos like these, you can say to yourself that this is a woman who likes sexual games.’
Ms El Bouroumi later said she had never denied Mrs Pelicot her status as a victim but wanted to point out inconsistencies between her testimony and the expertise of chemical submission adding she had ‘the right in a democracy to be a defence lawyer’.
However, her Instagram video was condemned by Nicolas Hervieu, a legal professor at the University of Evry near Paris who said: ‘The lawyer’s freedom of expression does not authorise them to give violent, vulgar or a cynical image of their profession.’
Corisca-based lawyer Jean-Pierre Ribaut-Pasqualini wrote: ‘You impact the entire image of the profession with your publications.
‘I just watched the video (one of the videos?) posted by the colleague who intervenes in the Mazan case. I am dismayed and devastated. I have the feeling that the hearing is now out of control. It’s dramatic.’
While another colleague, Marseille-based Alain Lothe said: ‘Spreading things like this on social media and singing this verse seems unworthy to me and not in line with the requirements that are ours as lawyers.’
Later Ms El Bouroumi posted a lengthy statement on her Instagram defending the video and saying it had been ‘misunderstood’.
She said: ‘I want to clarify that the recently shared and commented on video has been hijacked. I am deeply sorry if my words were misunderstood.
Nadia El Bouroumi, a lawyer of two of the accused, was criticised for singing ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ while driving to court
Dominique Pélicot, left, is accused of recruiting men online to assault his wife repeatedly over 10yrs
Ms El Bouroumi, pictured left, posted the controversial video on her instagram page
‘At no point have I tried to make fun of Gisele Pelicot, who I consider to be a victim and fragile person in this case.
‘Since this trial began, I have suffered threats, harassment and public insults. My children are also bullied, whether on social media or on the streets so I have filed a harassment complaint.
‘Today I am faced with a situation where it becomes almost impossible to practice my law profession in serene conditions. This incessant public and media pressure is frustrating me and preventing me from defending my clients in an impartial manner.’
Last week, MsCrepin-Dehaene was involved in a fiery exchange with Mrs Pelicot and her legal teams after graphic semi naked photos of her were shown in court.
The lawyer argued that they showed Mrs Pelicot ‘awake and smiling’ and she added: ‘Not all women would accept this type of photo. They show that there was a request from the husband that the wife was perfectly aware of.
‘I deduce that the Pelicot couple played a sexual game of their own.’
The lawyer later told French TV station BFMTV she had been subject to ‘offensive and threatening messages’ since posting the comments, which she had deleted and she would be bring a case against those who attacked her.
Colleagues of hers however questioned her comments with one saying:’The defence in is completely freewheeling.’
While Marie-Anne Soubre-Trinh said on X, formerly Twitter: ‘I see LinkedIn posts from a colleague of the defence in the Mazan trial.
‘I hope that (if these posts are indeed hers) the president (of her local bar council) will be immediately notified. I remind you that dignity and humanity are part of our oath.’
Another lawyer said: ‘The impression that defence lawyers are in a competition. We could accept the disastrous image for the profession if we were really certain that they are acting in the interest of their clients but there are doubts.’
According to the French bar code, ‘the principles of honor, loyalty, equality and non-discrimination, disinterestedness, fraternity, tact, moderation and courtesy,’ must be adhered to at all times.
Gisele Pelicot, 72, pictured, claims she was raped by 50 men over a ten-year period while under the influence of sleeping pills and tranquillisers that she had no awareness of taking
Caroline Darian left the courtroom at her mother’s request ahead of some graphic testimony
A defendant with his face covered arrives at the courtroom on September 20 with a police officer
Mr Pélicot depicted appearing at the courthouse in Avignon on September 11
Gisele Pelicot, flanked by her lawyer Stephane Babonneau, arrives at the courtroom on September 20
Ms Pelicot has been in court while details of her ordeal were shown to judges
Roland Rodriguez, president of the Rules and Practices Commission for the National Council of Bars, said: ‘The exercise of the rights of the defense is a pillar of the rule of law.
‘It would be dangerous to want to limit this exercise. Even if it is true that certain defense strategies can be shocking, we have the right to have this kind of strategy. ‘
But he added: ‘The code of ethics for lawyers is not just ‘recommendations’: it is binding on lawyers.
‘Each bar must enforce the rules of ethics, and the local president of the bar can open investigations to verify whether a fault has been committed.
‘In the event of a fault, an internal jurisdiction of the order is convened, which can impose sanctions ranging from a reprimand to being struck off the profession.’
Dominique Pelicot had admitted to the court his involvement in the decade long abuse against his wife who he sedated, and which took place until 2020 at their home in the village of Mazan, half an hour from Avignon.
Eighteen others who are jointly charged with him are in custody while the rest are on bail, although one is said to have skipped the country, and of those accused 14 have admitted raping Mrs Pelicot.
Police launched their investigation against Pelicot after he was arrested in 2020 for upskirting women at a supermarket in Carpentras near his home and they later found 1000s of images of his wife being abused on his laptop.
Detectives have listed a total of 92 rapes committed on Mrs Pelicot by 82 men of whom 51 have been identified aged between 26 and 73 years old.
He is said to have sedated his wife by putting Temesta into her evening meal and alleged attackers include civil servants, prison guards, a retired firefighter, a councillor and truck drivers.
In a separate case, Pelicot has been charged with raping and murder of a 23-year-old estate agent in Paris in 1991.
The former electrician – who is sitting in a wheelchair surrounded by prison guards for the hearing – has also admitted one rape in 1999, after DNA testing linked him to the attack.
The case is expected to last until December and the trial continues.
Who is Nadia El Bouroumi representing in the Monster of Avignon trial?
The two men represented by outspoken lawyer Nadia El Bouroumi in the Monster of Avignon trial are a74-year-old retired truck driver and a recruitment consultant.
Both Jean-Marc Leloup, and Omar Douiri, 36, are family men – like many of the other 50 on the indictment.
According to a court document obtained by MailOnline, Leloup went to Pelicot’s home several times between January 2011 and November 2020 and is accused of rape.
He has been divorced for 20 years, a grown-up daughter aged 45, and he told police he ‘liked women and libertinage’.
Leloup told investigator the first time he went to Mazan, Pelicot had told him his wife ‘took sleeping tablets’ and this was ‘a game for her’ but nothing had happened.
The abuse took place in the town of Mazan, south of France, and was only uncovered after Dominique Pelicot was caught up-skirting women in a local supermarket, prompting officers to search his home
He added that he Pelicot never said ‘he was drugging his wife’ but that she ‘was taking the tablets herself’, insisted he did not rape her and is adamant he is the ‘victim of a plot’.
Videos obtained from devices seized at Pelicot’s home are said to show Leloup having sex with Mrs Pelicot but he claims they are ‘fake’.
Douiri is said to have contacted Pelicot via the now closed Coco.fr chat room and was invited by him to ‘have sex’ with his wife in November 2017.
A video of him was found on a file on Pelicot’s computer under the name ‘Abuse’ and the file reveals he has been married for six years.
Douiri told investigators he had ‘no idea if she was awake’ as he didn’t speak with her but insists he was invited to have sex with her by Pelicot.
He said he had no idea Pelicot had filmed the rape and that he denied any wrongdoing insisting that he was ‘manipulated’.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk