FRANCE-JUSTICE-TRIAL-SURGEON-ASSAULT

Files are displayed in the courtroom during the opening day of French surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec' s trial for the rape and sexual abuse of four child at the courthouse in Saintes, western France, on March 13, 2020. - The 68 year-old retired French surgeon may have raped or sexually abused as many as 349 children over his near 30-year career and could be France's biggest-ever paedophilia case. Allegations against him cover the three decades he practised in hospitals across central and western France. They include accusations that he raped a six-year-old girl living in his neighbourhood, raped a young relative and sexually assaulted another, abused a child patient, and indecently exposing himself.After charges were brought against him in these cases, investigators discovered secret diaries in which Le Scouarnec described sex scenes involving scores more children. The children were named, allowing police to track them down to obtain their testimony, leading to additional charges. (Photo by GEORGES GOBET / AFP) (Photo by GEORGES GOBET/AFP via Getty Images)