Trial of Nine Men Accused of Abusing Woman Drugged and Raped by Husband Opened
The trial of nine men accused of various sexual offences committed against a woman drugged by her husband has been opened to the jury by the Prosecution at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
Rebecca Penfold represents one of the defendants accused of conspiring with the husband and contact offending.
A high-profile case with international media attention, it is reminiscent of the French case involving Gisele Pelicot.
The complexion of the case, which started on 1st September 2026, has intensified with the husband pleading guilty during the trial to over 60 offences and ‘turning KE’, now to be called as a Prosecution witness. Such is the complexity of the trial that during the seventh week, Julia Smart KC was instructed as leading counsel.
The trial is expected now to run into January 2027.
Rebecca and Julia are instructed by Victoria Frampton of HCB Group.
International media coverage includes the New York Times, the BBC, the Guardian, ITV and several In Court podcasts on BBC Sounds.
