Hundreds of people have gathered in the southern French town of Avignon ahead of the verdict in a mass-rape trial in which dozens of men stand accused.

A high-profile rape trial in France is moving into a new phase with prosecutors setting out the verdicts and punishments they want for 51 men men accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot, 71, while she was drugged and rendered unconscious by her husband of nearly 50 years.

The sensational trial of 50 men accused of raping an unwitting and unconscious French woman who was repeatedly drugged by her husband has exposed what critics say is a dark rape culture in the country.

The trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose husband repeatedly drugged her has highlighted the difficulties that sexual violence victims can face in France.

Lawyers for some of the men accused of raping an unconscious French woman who had been drugged by her husband have asked her about her habits, personality and sex life, and even questioned whether she was truly unconscious during the encounters.