Gisele Pelicot, 72, was sedated and raped by her then husband Dominique Pelicot.

For almost a decade, he crushed sleeping pills and other anti-anxiety drugs into her food and drink and then allegedly recruited men online to rape her.

Supported by family, Gisele was applauded as she arrived on Wednesday.

She is expected to react to the evidence heard so far in the case, which is at around its midway point.

Dressed in a grey zip-up cardigan and blue trousers, Dominique Pelicot bit his nails and looked at the ceiling as proceedings began in Avignon.

He's already admitted the charges for the crimes - carried out between 2011 and 2020.

He told the court he used a chat room to organise for men to come to the house and rape her while she was comatose.

"I am a rapist, like the others in this room," Pelicot previously admitted, claiming the others were aware they were being invited to commit rape.

Forty-nine of the 51 men on trial, including Dominique Pelicot, are accused of rape, one of attempted rape and one of sexual assault.

A few of them admit the charges but say they didn't intend to commit rape.

Most deny the allegations, some claiming they believed they were part of a game between the couple.

The men are aged between 26 and 74 and most lived in southeast France. Among them are a journalist, soldier and lorry driver.

They face up to 20 years in jail if convicted.

'He found sex elsewhere'

The wife of one co-defendant told the court on Wednesday that because she refused him sex "he found it elsewhere".

Giving evidence, the 45-year-old described her husband Jean Luc-L as "nice, honest, but he trusts everyone easily. He's a good husband and father".

She said their life was normal, adding: "He never hit me. I often refused sex. He insisted but then if I refused, he would be unhappy and then leave".

Recalling when police told her about the claims, the mother of two said: "I was in shock, but I think that because I refused him sex, as a man, that's why he found it elsewhere."

Hearing the comment, Gisele expressed surprise through her lawyer.

"I understand Gisele's position," the co-defendant's wife said.

The lawyer asked her about Gisele's surprise at her comments: "It's because I kept refusing and for a long time," she replied, prompting audible gasps from some in the court.

"I understand what my husband did to Gisele is unacceptable and I share her pain," she said.

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The woman said she hadn't left her husband and still visits him in prison.

Gisele Pelicot has waived her right to anonymity to ensure the evidence is heard in public, saying that "shame must change sides".

People across France have gathered for demonstrations in her name to show their support.

The trial is expected to continue until the end of the year.