The trial of a man who drugged his wife and allowed other men to rape her has been suspended after claiming he was suffering from "intense pain".
Dominique Pélicot was due to be cross-examined at the Vaucluse Criminal Court in Avignon, France but proceedings were halted.
Presiding judge Roger Arata said the 71-year-old has been "suffering with pain" in his intestines, first reported on Monday.
The Judge said: "He had samples taken yesterday for analysis.
The trial of a man who drugged his wife and allowed other men to rape her has been suspended after claiming he was suffering from 'intense pain'Reuters/ Unknown"Medical staff do not have the results. Mr Pélicot is still ill. I will be receiving emergency updates throughout the day."
The trial has been temporarily suspended with Judge Arata even suggesting that he was considering "a suspension of the trial lasting several days".
Pélicot - who is one of 51 defendants - did not attend court on Monday.
Béatrice Zavarro, a member of his defence counsel, said: "He assured me he wanted to be here, and that he does not intend to flee.
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"Since the beginning, he has told me that he has been waiting for this trial. Since the beginning, he has told me that he will explain himself."
Gisele Pélicot, 72, was unknowingly given a mix of sleeping pills and tranquillisers by her husband to knock her unconscious, so he could invite men he met online to come to his home in Mazan, near Avignon, to rape her.
Police uncovered more than 20,000 photos of Gisele being assaulted by strangers who were recruited on a forum called ‘Without her knowledge' on a now-shut-down site.
During the trial on Monday, psychologists described Pélicot as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character who considered himself a "good husband" by day but drugged his wife at night.
Photos of his daughter Caroline Darain had also been found on the 71-year-old’s computerGettyHis own daughter, Caroline Darian, said her father was "one of the greatest sexual predators" of recent years after he secretly photographed her naked, along with her two sisters-in-law.
Police have listed a total of 92 rapes committed by 72 men, 51 of whom have been identified.
The accused rapists included a forklift driver, a fire brigade officer, a company boss and a journalist.
Most participated just once, but some took part up to six times.
