Dad On Stand At Pedophilia Trial

A man charged with raping three of his children took the stand Tuesday in a massive pedophilia trial and sought to pin blame on his father in a case that has horrified
France.

Franck V., one of the suspected leaders of a pedophilia ring, conceded 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, recalling sexual abuse of his children by their grandfather.

In muddled testimony, the defendant charged with 15 rapes - three of his own 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, the father of three acknowledged having fondled his own children one time, but denied any sexual abuse on any others or any repeat offenses.

His lawyer, Pascal Rouiller, told reporters during a break in the proceedings that the alleged pedophile ring was far too vast for Franck V. to organize.

Another suspect, Martine D., the mother of two alleged victims, testified that she had taken her children to Franck V.'s home - said to be the main hub of the pedophilia - 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 pedophilia ring in which babies and children were allegedly raped, sexually abused and prostituted by their parents for food or money.

Investigators found 45 children - from 6 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 abusers played 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 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.

Tuesday's hearing marked the start of a phase in which the defendants will be asked about the alleged crimes. The court already has heard videotaped testimony from the children allegedly abused.

The trial is expected to end in July.

By Stephanie Lacaze