Posted on 05/04/2005 10:23:09 AM PDT by SmithL
Harrowing scenes from a young girl's birthday, in which she and other children were allegedly surrounded by naked adults, were recounted during testimony Wednesday in a pedophilia trial that has horrified France.
Alain D., one of 66 people accused of involvement in a pedophilia ring, recalled the day a child named Marine V. turned 6, adding more chilling testimony to the trial.
Most of the defendants deny any wrongdoing.
Investigators say 45 children — aged 6 months to 14 years old — were abused by parents or acquaintances from 1999 to 2002, in some cases in exchange for small amounts of money, food, cigarettes or alcohol.
Marine V. is 10 today. Victims and suspects cannot be identified by full names because of French laws designed to preserve the anonymity of child victims. She is the daughter of two top suspects in the case, who were said to have organized the pedophilia ring, and hosted adults and lured other children to their home in the western city of Angers.
On Marine's birthday, her father — Franck V. — and her grandfather, Philippe V., were at home with the children, Alain D. told the court.
"I went into the bedroom, I saw Franck and Philippe with their pants down. They were touching the children," said Alain, who faces a maximum of five years if convicted of sexual assault and failing to report criminal acts.
Alain D. detailed graphic accounts of sexual acts he witnessed involving Marine and other children, both boys and girls.
"Why did you watch?" asked the prosecutor, Eric Marechal, visibly stunned.
Alain D. responded: "I was paralyzed."
Jacqueline, his wife, told the court that at that time she said: "We have to intervene."
But they did nothing.
The case, one of the most shocking in recent memory in France, became known in 2000 when a 16-year-old girl alleged she had been raped by her mother's boyfriend and his brother.
Franck V., under questioning Tuesday, acknowledged having fondled his children one time, but denied any sexual abuse on any others or any repeat offenses.
In all, 39 men and 27 women are accused of participating in a pedophilia ring in which babies and children were allegedly raped, sexually abused and prostituted by their parents for food or money.
Some of the alleged abusers are accused of playing games of "doctor" with the children.
More than half of the accused, aged 27 to 73, were unemployed and living off benefits in state-supported housing. Some were drawn to the alleged ring from neighboring towns. If convicted, the defendants face sentences ranging from three years to life.
The trial is expected to end in July.
Yes, I have been told the enlightened French are above such things.
Might be true, might be another mass hysteria case.
Burn them all.
Jacqueline, his wife, told the court that at that time she said: "We have to intervene."
But they did nothing.
Translation: I surrender!
Doesn't look like one to me. You have the accused confessing in this one.
That's what I was thinking.
True but not to the wider ring.
I was thinking the same thing. This sounds eerily similar to McMartin Preschool case in So. Cal. about 15 years ago.
How do you figure? I didn't read that any of the children had testified.
I believe I read when these people were first arrested that they video taped and photographed a lot of their activities. If so there would be actual evidence which is something the McMartin case lacked.
FM
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