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May 04, 2005
Suspected Leader of Child Sex Ring 'Raped his Children
A man charged with raping his three children tried to pin blame on his father in a child sex trial that has shocked France.
Franck V, one of the suspected leaders of a massive paedophile ring, admitted yesterday that he had not always behaved properly with his children.
“I am going tell you frankly: It’s not easy to speak. In any case, I know I’m going to be convicted,” he said.
Franck V faces 20 years in prison if convicted of raping, sexually abusing and forcing his children into prostitution. He cannot be identified by his full name because of French laws designed to preserve the anonymity of child victims.
He said he had seen his father, Philippe V, abuse his children.
“My father did some sexual fondling. As for me, I didn’t know everything because I wasn’t always there,” he said.
In muddled testimony, the defendant charged with 15 rapes – including of his three children – and 18 acts of sexual abuse said he had “taken a pill for nerves so that I don’t lose my mind” before the proceedings.
Under questioning, he acknowledged having fondled his children once, but denied any sexual abuse on any others or any repeat offences.
His lawyer, Pascal Rouiller, told reporters during a break in the proceedings that the alleged paedophile ring was far too vast for Franck V to have organised.
Another suspect, Martine D, the mother of two alleged victims, said she had taken her children to Franck V’s home – said to be the main hub of the paedophilia – and had sex with him herself.
“I saw him caressing his own children,” she said, weeping and complaining of gaps in her memory during a chaotic sequence of court questioning about Franck V. She said she too was on medication.
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.
In all, 39 men and 27 women are accused of participating in a paedophilia ring in which babies and children were allegedly raped, sexually abused and prostituted by their parents for food or money.
Investigators say they found 45 children – from six months to 14 years old – were raped and sexually abused from 1999 to 2002 by parents, acquaintances or others, in some cases in exchange for small amounts of money, food, cigarettes or alcohol.
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 neighbouring towns. If convicted, they face sentences ranging from three years to life.
The 66 defendants have so far answered questions about their backgrounds and personal histories since the trial began in March in the western city of Angers.
Yesterday’s hearing marked the start of a phase in which the defendants will be asked about the alleged crimes. The court has already heard videotaped testimony from the children allegedly abused.
The trial is expected to end in July.
Posted by Nealus at May 4, 2005 11:34 AM
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