looking weak and leaning on a cane Dominique pelico appeared in a courtroom in Aenon Wednesday the 71-year-old was due to testify in a case that has shocked France but the judge postponed his testimony after the defendant's attorney explained that pelo was unable to endure a fullan court because of his poor health Dominic pelico is indeed physically present today psychologically he is not in good shape and physically he's still in a lot of pain and I feel he's very very weak and I feel he's in no way able to handle a full day of Court sitting on a chair waiting for his turn to speak and to be really fit to answer all of the questions Dominique pelico has admitted to charges that he recruited dozens of men to rape his heavily sedated wife over a decade prosecutors say he drugged Jazelle pelico with sleeping pills and filmed the ACT involving 72 men 5050 of whom have been identified the defendants range in age from 26 to 74 the presiding judge said the hearings would continue in spite of the defendant's absence but jaizelle pelico attorney had argued the defendant must be present for the proceedings the question that arises is how can this trial continue if Dominic pello is not present there can't be a trial if Bello's health and his ability to stand trial are not guaranteed guarante the judge ordered Dominique pelico to undergo a medical examination saying he could not appear in court until Monday at the earliest and would consider temporarily suspending the trial on Thursday pelico and the other defendants face up to 20 years in prison if they're convicted