Chinese student on trial in Germany for raping sedated partner, echoing Pelicot case

A Chinese student accused of having drugged and raped his girlfriend numerous times while filming her went on trial in Germany on Monday, in the latest case that recalls the plight of French woman Gisele Pelicot.Prosecutors believe that it was only due to coincidence that the Chinese woman did not die during the ordeal and have charged the 27-year-old defendant with seven counts of attempted murder, grievous bodily harm and aggravated rape, alongside other offences.The defendant did not address the Munich Regional Court I at the start of the proceedings, with his lawyer saying he would do so at a later date.Instead, video footage of the offences said to have been filmed by the defendant was shown in court, with the public excluded to protect the victim.The videos show the man repeatedly injecting his girlfriend with drugs or pressing cloths soaked in anaesthetics onto her face to ensure that she did not wake up while raping her on several occasions in his Munich flat in 2024, according to investigators.Prosecutors believe the man was aware that the sedated woman could die; therefore, they charged him with attempted murder.