The former teacher and management staff member of the Lycee Technique de Bonnevoie told the court on Tuesday that he alone is responsible for what happened, not any of the minors or an illness. The former teacher, who has been suspended since September 2016, stands accused of having sexually assaulted minors, who were between 15 and 17 years old at the time.
During Tuesday's court session, the defendant alluded to the suicide of the main victim, telling the court he was devastated and had broken down when he heard the news. The man's words snapped something in the mourning mother of the victim, who was unable to hold back and inconsolably wailed that her son was gone forever because of the defendant. Her family and the police investigator had to escort the grieving woman out of the hall to help her calm down.
Before the victim's mother broke down, the defendant issued his regret at his actions, saying the majority of what occurred is his fault. He told the court that at the beginning, it was difficult to realise he was responsible. He agreed with the investigator's assessment, in tears for part of his testimony. The defendant said he was incredibly sorry for what had happened, explaining that he had signed up to an online dating platform for gay people after two relationships failed.
He explained he had not seen that large an age difference with his victims, saying he was glad he won't be technically considered a paedophile due to the ages of the boys he had sex with. After his time in prison, he received treatment and felt like a different person now, telling the court he had changed his life.
At the beginning of Tuesday's session, a psychiatrist told the court the former teacher was not mentally ill and was not considered a paedophile, medically speaking. Nevertheless, the psychiatrist said, it never became clear what exactly caused his attraction to underage teenagers. His statement that the minors in question were not damaged by what happened was also characteristic, the psychiatrist confirmed. The psychiatrist recommended psychotherapy rather than psychiatric treatment, and ultimately deemed the man to be criminally liable.
The trial will end on Wednesday afternoon.
In court: Former teacher prosecuted for sexually assaulting minors
