Frenchman on trial for rape of drugged wife is hospitalized, lawyer says

AVIGNON, France -

A 71-year-old man on trial in France accused of drugging his wife and inviting dozens of strangers to rape her in their home was hospitalized on Tuesday for medical checks and treatment, his lawyer told journalists.

Dominique Pelicot, the main defendant in a trial that is set to run until December and has appalled France, had been due to testify later in the day but the presiding court judge ordered him to undergo medical tests first.

The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

"Mr Pelicot is not trying to shirk his responsibility, he will not shirk his responsibility," defence lawyer Beatrice Zavarro said, adding that her client started to show symptoms of what could be a bladder infection or colic on Friday.

Prosecutors said Pelicot offered sex with his wife on a website and filmed the abuse. Fifty other men accused, over the period of a decade, of raping her when she was knocked unconscious by the drugs are also on trial.

Zavarro has told French media Pelicot admits to his crimes. The other defendants were of all ages and walks of life, French media said, adding that some admitted to being guilty while others said they thought the wife had pretended to be asleep.

They each face up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.

(Reporting by Antony Panone; writing by Tassilo Hummel; editing by Mark Heinrich)

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

‘I’ll make sure you live forever': Bill Vigars, the publicist responsible for promoting Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope passes away

Vigars passed away peacefully in a B.C. hospital earlier this week. He was 78.

Picture-perfect engagement under Manitoba northern lights

Sometimes love is written in the stars, but for one couple, it’s written in the aurora borealis.

5 things not to say to a grieving friend

It’s almost impossible to know what to say to someone in the throes of grief. We all want to say something comforting. Very few of us know what that is.

Bomb threat sent to BC NDP campaign office on Vancouver Island

A BC NDP campaign office in Campbell River received a bomb threat Friday afternoon, according to the party.

Report says at least 55 children died or disappeared at B.C. residential school

A British Columbia First Nation says at least 55 children died or disappeared while attending a residential school near Williams Lake, more than triple the number recorded for the institution in the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation memorial register.

A vehicle dropping off a shooting victim struck 3 nurses, critically wounding 1

A vehicle fleeing a Philadelphia hospital after dropping off a gunshot victim early Saturday struck three nurses who were trying to treat the patient, injuring one critically, authorities said.

Longueuil woman charged after 10-year-old boy scalded with boiling water

A woman from Montreal's South Shore appeared in court on Friday on charges of aggravated assault after allegedly scalding a 10-year-old boy with boiling water more than one week ago.

Murder charges for two men in connection with Old Montreal fire

Two young men are facing second-degree murder charges in connection with the fatal fire in Old Montreal that killed Léonor Geraudie, 43, and her daughter Vérane Reynaud-Geraudie on Oct. 4.

Possible Listeria contamination leads to the recall of Rana brand sauce: CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a recall for Rana brand Tagliatelle Seasoned White Chicken and Mushroom sauce, citing possible Listeria contamination.

Canada

Bomb threat sent to BC NDP campaign office on Vancouver Island

A BC NDP campaign office in Campbell River received a bomb threat Friday afternoon, according to the party.
Picture-perfect engagement under Manitoba northern lights

Sometimes love is written in the stars, but for one couple, it’s written in the aurora borealis.
Multiple Vehicle Collision near Wolfville, N.S.

A multiple vehicle collision took place Saturday morning on Hwy. 101 in Nova Scotia.
Murder charges for two men in connection with Old Montreal fire

Two young men are facing second-degree murder charges in connection with the fatal fire in Old Montreal that killed Léonor Geraudie, 43, and her daughter Vérane Reynaud-Geraudie on Oct. 4.
Oktoberfest hosts Best Caesar in Town grand finale

The event took place on Saturday at Willkommen Platz in downtown Kitchener.
‘I’ll make sure you live forever': Bill Vigars, the publicist responsible for promoting Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope passes away

Vigars passed away peacefully in a B.C. hospital earlier this week. He was 78.

World

An Australian police sergeant likely to be charged over a Nazi salute

An Australian state police chief apologized to the Jewish community on Saturday after a sergeant allegedly performed an outlawed Nazi salute.
Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who sought Scotland's independence, dies at 69

Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland who for decades championed Scotland's independence from the U.K., has died. He was 69.
Marital rape is still not outlawed in India. Changing that would be ‘excessively harsh,’ government argues

Criminalizing marital rape would be 'excessively harsh,' the Indian government has said, in a blow to campaigners ahead of a long-awaited Supreme Court decision that will affect hundreds of millions of people in India for generations.
Data shows migrants aren’t taking jobs from Black or Hispanic people, despite what Trump says

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump promises the biggest deportation event the U.S. has ever seen if he is elected — a promise he has predicated, in part, on the notion that immigrants in the U.S. legally and illegally are stealing what he calls 'Black jobs' and 'Hispanic jobs.'
Sister of North Korea's leader threatens South Korea over drone flights

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday accused South Korea of deliberately avoiding responsibility for the alleged flights of South Korean drones over the North’s capital, and warned of a 'terrible calamity' if they continue.
A vehicle dropping off a shooting victim struck 3 nurses, critically wounding 1

A vehicle fleeing a Philadelphia hospital after dropping off a gunshot victim early Saturday struck three nurses who were trying to treat the patient, injuring one critically, authorities said.

Politics

Prime minister faces mounting pressure to step aside from inside caucus

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will face mounting pressure from his caucus this week to step down from the leadership of the Liberal party.
Government spending on flights for Canadians fleeing the Middle East unpopular, Nanos survey finds

Amid escalating violence in the Middle East, a majority of surveyed Canadians say they don't believe the costs associated with Canadians fleeing the region should be funded solely by the government.
Bloc won't hold Liberals 'hostage' over seniors' benefits: cabinet minister

Liberal cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault says the Liberals will not be 'held hostage' by the Bloc Quebecois' demand to expand Old Age Security to more seniors.

Health

Possible Listeria contamination leads to the recall of Rana brand sauce: CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a recall for Rana brand Tagliatelle Seasoned White Chicken and Mushroom sauce, citing possible Listeria contamination.
Study finds too many Quebec seniors being overprescribed inappropriate medications

A Montreal study found that many seniors are being overprescribed inappropriate medications.
How psilocybin, the psychedelic in mushrooms, may rewire the brain to ease depression, anxiety and more

Small clinical trials have shown that one or two doses of psilocybin, given in a therapeutic setting, can make dramatic and long-lasting changes in people suffering from treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, which typically does not respond to traditional antidepressants.

Sci-Tech

Look up: Northern lights could be visible across Canada this week

The northern lights could be visible across most of Canada this week.
TikTok was aware of risks kids and teens face on its platform, legal document alleges

TikTok was aware that its design features are detrimental to its young users and that publicly touted tools aimed at limiting kids’ time on the site were largely ineffective, according to internal documents and communications exposed in a lawsuit filed by the state of Kentucky.
What's behind the northern lights that dazzled the sky farther south than normal

Another in a series of unusually strong solar storms hitting Earth produced stunning skies full of pinks, purples, greens and blues farther south than normal, including into parts of Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.

Entertainment

Sean 'Diddy' Combs to stay in jail while appeals court takes up bail fight

A federal appeals court judge has ruled to keep Sean 'Diddy' Combs locked up while he makes a third bid for bail in his sex trafficking case, which is slated to go to trial in May.
Al Pacino says being a new dad at 84 is a 'mini miracle'

Al Pacino is enjoying being a late-in-life dad. The legendary actor talked about being a father to a brood, including to 16-month-old Roman with producer Noor Alfallah.
'Emotional train wreck': Filming of Swissair Flight 111 movie hits close to home

Set to premiere next year, the film '111' is a joint Canadian-Swiss production that follows the interwoven stories of four people in the aftermath of the Sept. 2, 1998 Swissair crash near Peggy's Cove, N.S.

Business

7-Eleven is closing more than 400 locations

Several hundred "underperforming" 7-Eleven locations across North America are closing, the convenience store announced.
Job growth numbers 'good news' in Canada but there are concerns, according to an economist

An economist says the latest job growth numbers in Canada are 'good news,' but he has concerns following Statistic Canada's report.
opinion
opinion What are the best ways to boost your income in Canada?

Whether you're looking to pay off debt, save for a big purchase, or simply give yourself greater financial stability, personal finance contributor Christopher Liew shares some of the best ways to boost your income.

Lifestyle

5 things not to say to a grieving friend

It’s almost impossible to know what to say to someone in the throes of grief. We all want to say something comforting. Very few of us know what that is.
When Europe's railroad dining cars were the height of luxury

The Orient Express' opulent passenger experience was later immortalized in popular culture by authors like Graham Greene and Agatha Christie. But dining on the move was very much a triumph of logistics and engineering.
'It's beautiful': B.C. man invites strangers into his home for Thanksgiving dinner

James Taylor never expected to be walking home with a bag full of groceries he didn't buy.

Sports

Messier says 'change' is inevitable as the NHL enters streaming era on Amazon

Over his quarter century in the National Hockey League, Mark Messier witnessed sweeping technological changes to the game, from the advent of lighter hockey sticks to the use of video reviews.
Jack Nicholson, Spike Lee and Billy Crystal set to become basketball Hall of Famers as superfans

Some prominent figures will be added to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery on Sunday, a few hours before this year’s class is enshrined in Springfield, Mass.
FIFA urged to put more human rights scrutiny into 2034 World Cup deal with Saudi Arabia

Two months before FIFA is set to confirm Saudi Arabia as the 2034 World Cup host, the soccer body was urged again Friday to allow independent scrutiny of the kingdom's human rights obligations for the tournament.

Autos

Elon Musk unveils his 'Cybercab' robotaxi

Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled on Thursday his vision of a 'a fun, exciting future,' an 'age of abundance' full of his company’s self-driving cars without steering wheels, parking lots turned into parks and robots that will walk among the population – that he once again promised would be available within a few years.
video
video Why are there cars in the Detroit River?

Dozens of cars were pulled out of the Detroit River in west Windsor on Tuesday, causing many questions for Windsorites.
Hundreds of thousands of popular vehicles recalled in Canada over steering issue

Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are being recalled in Canada due to a steering-related issue that could increase a driver's risk of crash.

Court untangles 'bizarre mess' that allowed Vancouver duplex owner to pay off mortgage after foreclosure, sale

A B.C. Supreme Court judge has ruled on a case she describes as a "bizarre mess" in a decision issued earlier this week.
Bowen Island community divided as it tries to coexist with cougar

Ever since a cougar made its way from the mainland to the island almost three months ago, the community’s social media pages have been awash with questions about sightings, sounds and strange goings on. Some residents have posted warnings of deer carcasses spotted on the side of the road; others have described hearing strange caterwauling in the night.
'This is their safe place': Hockey program breaks barriers for Indigenous kids

A program that started in Nanaimo five years ago that teaches Indigenous kids how to play hockey is so popular that it’s expanding.

Toronto

‘Deeply troubling’: Jewish girls’ school in North York hit by gunfire for the second time

Toronto police are investigating after a Jewish girls' school in North York was hit by gunfire for the second time this year.
Parents across GTA warned by some private daycares that they may pull out of $10-a-day program

Parents at some private, for-profit daycares across the GTA are being warned that their fees could soon be doubling as operators consider pulling out of the national $10-a-day child-care program.
What's open, closed, and what to do in Toronto over the Thanksgiving weekend

Here is a look at what’s open, what’s closed, and what’s on in the GTA during Thanksgiving weekend 2024:

Calgary

Calgary Public Library locations closed due to cybersecurity breach

Calgary Public Library (CPL) locations closed early on Friday following a cyber attack.
Biogas project removed website after anti-greenwashing law came into effect

The company behind a contentious biogas project near High River removed its website after Canada’s anti-greenwashing rules came into effect.
Lewis' late TD lifts Elks to 23-18 win, season series sweep of Stampeders

Eugene Lewis caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tre Ford with 1:09 remaining in the game to lead the Edmonton Elks to a 23-18 win over the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on Saturday.

Ottawa

Here's what's open and closed in Ottawa on Thanksgiving

CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what's open and closed in Ottawa over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Ottawa firefighters rescue person who fell down ventilation shaft

Firefighters help to rescue a person that fell over through the sidewalk into a ventilation shaft in downtown Ottawa on Saturday.
Man found dead after ATV crash in Gananoque River

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after was found dead in a single all-terrain vehicle (ATV) crash.

Montreal

Murder charges for two men in connection with Old Montreal fire

Two young men are facing second-degree murder charges in connection with the fatal fire in Old Montreal that killed Léonor Geraudie, 43, and her daughter Vérane Reynaud-Geraudie on Oct. 4.
Asylum seeker advocates tired of Quebec rhetoric aimed at refugees

For months, Premier Francois Legault has said Quebec has too many people crossing the border and has demanded that the federal government step in to send them to other provinces.
More and bigger spiders noticeable in Montreal this fall

Spiders are larger and more visible in the Montreal area in the fall as they prepare to lay their eggs before the cold winter months.

Edmonton

Yellowhead Trail closed in both directions after crash Saturday night

A stretch of Yellowhead Trail in north Edmonton was closed Saturday night after a serious crash.
Witnesses wanted in suspicious death near High Level Bridge

A man's death is under investigation after he was found critically injured on the LRT foot path near the High Level Bridge on Friday night.
Alberta's school cell phone ban has been in place for one month. Here's how families and staff think it's going

CTV News Edmonton spoke with two families, as well as Edmonton's public and Catholic school divisions, about the first month of school with Alberta's school cellphone ban.

Atlantic

Person of interest located in Nova Scotia homicide investigation

Halifax Regional Police located a person of interest in relation to a homicide.
Multiple Vehicle Collision near Wolfville, N.S.

A multiple vehicle collision took place Saturday morning on Hwy. 101 in Nova Scotia.
EXCLUSIVE: 'We were privileged to be friends with our sister': Family mourns murdered N.S. woman

More than a month after the murder of Nova Scotia woman Esther Jones, her family continues to grapple with the loss.

Winnipeg

Winnipeggers arrested after images surface of cats being tortured, killed online

Two Winnipeggers have been arrested after images and videos were posted online of animals being tortured and killed.
Former Winnipeg teacher charged with voyeurism, child pornography offences after videos filmed in change room seized

A 37-year-old Winnipeg man has been charged with multiple offences after videos filmed in a public pool change room were seized by police.
'This is something special': Tec Voc Hornets taking Winnipeg high school football league by storm

Tec Voc has started 6-0 – leading the AAA division as the only undefeated team.

Regina

Riders crush Lions to secure home playoff game

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will host a playoff game for the first time since 2021 after defeating the B.C. Lions Saturday night at Mosaic Stadium.
Saskatchewan Party unveils campaign platform

The Saskatchewan Party laid out its platform on Saturday, outlining their plan if they get re-elected in the Oct. 28 provincial election.
Hazardous material spilled on Highway 46 near Balgonie, Sask., drivers asked to use caution

White Butte RCMP and local fire services are responding to a fertilizer spill on Highway 46 and the overpass near Balgonie, Sask. on Saturday afternoon.

Kitchener

What was lost - and found - after devastating Brantford club fire

Days after flames ripped through three units of the Mohawk Plaza, the club is still coming to terms with the loss.
Possible Listeria contamination leads to the recall of Rana brand sauce: CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a recall for Rana brand Tagliatelle Seasoned White Chicken and Mushroom sauce, citing possible Listeria contamination.
Joint forces' operation leads to seizure of 3.6 million unstamped cigarettes: OPP

The Ontario Provincial Police West Region Highway Safety Division, Traffic Incident Management Enforcement Team and the Ministry of Finance were involved in a joint forces operation on Thursday.

Saskatoon

Riders crush Lions to secure home playoff game

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will host a playoff game for the first time since 2021 after defeating the B.C. Lions Saturday night at Mosaic Stadium.
Saskatchewan Party unveils campaign platform

The Saskatchewan Party laid out its platform on Saturday, outlining their plan if they get re-elected in the Oct. 28 provincial election.
Saskatchewan RCMP investigating suspicious death at Lac La Ronge Indian Band

Northern Ontario

On Thanksgiving weekend, police remind drivers to keep their eyes on the road

Even on an average day, the intersection of Highway 17 at Highway 6 near Espanola is busy, but it’s especially steady on a Friday before a long weekend.
Prime minister faces mounting pressure to step aside from inside caucus

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will face mounting pressure from his caucus this week to step down from the leadership of the Liberal party.
Government spending on flights for Canadians fleeing the Middle East unpopular, Nanos survey finds

Amid escalating violence in the Middle East, a majority of surveyed Canadians say they don't believe the costs associated with Canadians fleeing the region should be funded solely by the government.

London

‘I’ll make sure you live forever': Bill Vigars, the publicist responsible for promoting Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope passes away

Vigars passed away peacefully in a B.C. hospital earlier this week. He was 78.
Possible Listeria contamination leads to the recall of Rana brand sauce: CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a recall for Rana brand Tagliatelle Seasoned White Chicken and Mushroom sauce, citing possible Listeria contamination.
Western Mustangs cruise past Varsity Blues ahead of regular season finale next week

The Mustangs made quick work of Toronto in a rare Friday night OUA Football game.

Barrie

Multi-vehicle crash sends five to hospital

OPP continue to investigate a multi-vehicle crash that occurred midday Saturday in the City of Kawartha Lakes, resulting in five needing treatment for various injuries.
Local teen chases unique world record

13-year-old Jackson Fuller is attempting to set the record for most miles travelled in an ATV within 24 hours this weekend, chasing it by lapping around the Orillia & District Agricultural Society (ODAS) Park circuit outside Orillia.
Driver dies in single-vehicle crash

OPP are investigating a single-vehicle collision in Caledon early Saturday morning that resulted in the death of the driver.

Windsor

Food banks and shelters urgently seek donations as Thanksgiving ramps up demand

With the arrival of Thanksgiving weekend, food banks and shelters in Windsor are reminding people that not everyone in our community will be able to have a turkey dinner with their family.
Possible Listeria contamination leads to the recall of Rana brand sauce: CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a recall for Rana brand Tagliatelle Seasoned White Chicken and Mushroom sauce, citing possible Listeria contamination.
‘I’ll make sure you live forever': Bill Vigars, the publicist responsible for promoting Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope passes away

Vigars passed away peacefully in a B.C. hospital earlier this week. He was 78.

Vancouver Island

Bomb threat sent to BC NDP campaign office on Vancouver Island

A BC NDP campaign office in Campbell River received a bomb threat Friday afternoon, according to the party.
'This is their safe place': Hockey program breaks barriers for Indigenous kids

A program that started in Nanaimo five years ago that teaches Indigenous kids how to play hockey is so popular that it’s expanding.
Bowen Island community divided as it tries to coexist with cougar

Ever since a cougar made its way from the mainland to the island almost three months ago, the community’s social media pages have been awash with questions about sightings, sounds and strange goings on. Some residents have posted warnings of deer carcasses spotted on the side of the road; others have described hearing strange caterwauling in the night.

Kelowna

B.C. homeowner astounded someone managed to steal one of his prized giant pumpkins

Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.
B.C. man gets prison sentence, fine for using fake names to buy guns in the U.S.

A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.
2nd-degree murder charge laid nearly 2 years after Kelowna stabbing

Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

Lethbridge

Giants rally late to topple Hurricanes in overtime 4-3

The Vancouver Giants scored late to force overtime before winning 4-3 over the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday night.
Lethbridge Corn Maze celebrates 25th anniversary with Monday fundraiser

If you’re looking for something to do this long weekend, the Lethbridge Corn Maze is open and hosting its annual fundraiser on Monday.
'So much excitement': Aurora borealis light show amazes Lethbridge photographers

Local photographers were amazed by the aurora borealis display in the night sky over Lethbridge on Thursday night.

Sault Ste. Marie

Northwestern Ontario woman charged in connection with teen's death

A 32-year-old woman has been charged in connection with the death of an 18-year-old man this past January, according to Ontario Provincial Police.
Two charged in recent Blind River suspicious death probe

Two people are facing multiple charges after a dead person was brought to North Shore Health Network in Blind River this summer.
New Sault committee looks to crack down on graffiti

A closer look at preventing graffiti will be looked at in Sault Ste. Marie, after a string of offensive displays by one man, including spray painting anti-Indigenous language and painting over the pride crosswalk.

N.L.

'Crack houses' across rural Newfoundland? RCMP has no reports supporting MP's claim

A Conservative MP from Newfoundland and Labrador says some small towns in his rural riding are overrun with crime, but police say they haven't received reports to that effect.
Self-identifying Indigenous group got $74M in federal cash, Inuit leader wants change

As millions in federal funding flow into a Labrador group whose claims of Inuit identity have been rejected by Indigenous organizations across Canada, a national Inuit leader worries the Liberal government is putting the rights of Indigenous Peoples at risk.
Marathon goat: Animal runner wins hearts and a medal after crashing Newfoundland race

He may not have logged the fastest time or even gone the full distance, but residents of a Newfoundland town agree the goat who unexpectedly joined the local weekend half marathon was the event's undisputed champion.

Frenchman on trial for rape of drugged wife is hospitalized, lawyer says

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

opinion | What are the best ways to boost your income in Canada?

video | Why are there cars in the Detroit River?

opinion What are the best ways to boost your income in Canada?

video Why are there cars in the Detroit River?