A new wave of protests is preparing for Sunday in France, as thousands of people want to take to the streets again to express their support for a woman who was allegedly raped by 20 firefighters when she was a child aged 13-15.
The case is being heard in the French Supreme Court this week, and people are hoping to reach the age limit for sexual consent, as is the case in other European Union member states.
"Julie" has been named and raped by firefighters in Paris for a period of 2 years. It was a firefighter, simply named Pierre, who helped her manage a stress crisis in 2008 when the little girl was 13 years old.
Three of the 20 firefighters have confessed to having sex with her, but said the meeting was consensual. But she wrote in her diary shortly after that she was "terrified and paralyzed by fear."
The Paris fire brigade found the minor's phone number from a medical document, in which her age was noted. Julie says he bombarded her with "tender messages" before asking her to undress on camera.
When the little girl did, the firefighter gave her phone to a colleague, who asked her to do the same.
Her lawyers want all 20 firefighters to be convicted of rape, but only three are currently charged with "sexual assault".
According to the case file, firefighters entered her home 130 times over a period of 2 years. Her mother, Corinne Leriche, said she was initially grateful for the firefighter's attitude and the help she provided to her child.
In November 2009, Pierre took the 14-year-old girl to his home, where he was gang-raped by 3 firefighters.
The investigation into the case lasted 8 years and when it ended in July 2019, the judge ruled that it was not rape, but "consensual sex with a minor under the age of 15". A charge that carries a sentence of 7 years, while the rape 20 years.
When Julie heard the verdict in 2019, she attempted suicide.
Source: Newsbeast.gr
