A high-profile lawyer defending two men in the Monster of Avignon rape trial has sparked fury after posting a video of herself dancing to Wham hit ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’.
Nadia El Bouroumi, 45, has become one of the standout defence lawyers in the case with critics accusing her of belittling the crimes of Dominque Pelicot, 71, who is charged with 50 other men of raping his wife Gisele, also 71, by using powerful tranquilisers.
The unmistakable link between the 80s classic and the modus operandi of Pelicot was highlighted by local paper La Provence who said the reference to ‘the chemical submission suffered by the victim’ was clear and ‘hard not to see’.
At various points through the trial Ms El Bouroumi has been heard raising her voice and loudly criticising Mrs Pelicot as she tries to sow doubts about her sexual behaviour, in an attempt to defend her clients Omar Douiri and Jean Marc Leloup.
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
MsEl Bouroumi, pictured, has been criticised for her choice of song given the nature of the claims against her clients
Dominique Pélicot, left, is accused of recruiting men online to assault his wife repeatedly over 10yrs
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
To hit back at her critics, she posted on her Instagram a clip of herself dancing at the wheel of her car just minutes before she was due in court at Avignon in southern France for the continuation of the trial.
The mum of two captioned it: ‘To all the extremists who think they can muzzle me! This is for you!’ she could be seen bopping up and down and pointing her arm muscles as she smiled and laughed for the camera.
Ms El Bouroumi, who has more than 51,000 followers on social media added: ‘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 !’
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.’
Caroline Darian left the courtroom at her mother’s request ahead of some graphic testimony
Nadia El Bouroumi, pictured, has dismissed criticism against her handling of the case
Ms El Bouroumi, pictured left, posted the controversial video on her instagram page
A defendant with his face covered arrives at the courtroom on September 20 with a police officer
A prison van arrives at the courtroom in Avignon on September 20
Gisele Pelicot, flanked by her lawyer Stephane Babonneau, arrives at the courtroom on September 20
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.
‘At no point have I tried to make fun of Gisèle Pélicot, who I consider to be a victim and fragile person in this case.
Abuse took place in the town of Mazan, south of France, and was only uncovered after the man was caught up-skirting women in a local supermarket, prompting officers to search his home
Mr Pélicot depicted appearing at the courthouse in Avignon on September 11
Ms Pelicot has been in court while details of her ordeal were shown to judges
‘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.’
She later uploaded a video of herself attending the wedding of her sister in law.
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 83 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.