In brief
The former surgeon, Joël Le Scouarnec, is accused of a staggering 299 counts of rape and sexual assault over a 25-year period. The trial, taking place in Vannes, Brittany, has garnered massive attention and is considered the most severe pedophilia case in France's history.
In court, 74-year-old Le Scouarnec calmly acknowledged his past profession as a surgeon while being led in by police. Most of the alleged victims were children, with an average age of just 11 at the time of the reported incidents, which spanned from 1989 to 2014. The trial is expected to last about four months as France grapples with the shocking revelations of this case.
