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| Strauss Kahn pimping trial: First defendant take stand | Strauss Kahn pimping trial: First defendant take stand |
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| The first defendant has taken the stand at the trial in northern France of former IMF head Dominic Strauss-Kahn for pimping. | The first defendant has taken the stand at the trial in northern France of former IMF head Dominic Strauss-Kahn for pimping. |
| Former hotel PR manager Rene Kojfer, 74, is accused of providing prostitutes for parties Mr Strauss-Kahn attended. | Former hotel PR manager Rene Kojfer, 74, is accused of providing prostitutes for parties Mr Strauss-Kahn attended. |
| The former public relations manager for the Carlton Hotel in Lille is among 14 defendants to speak at the trial in the northern city. | The former public relations manager for the Carlton Hotel in Lille is among 14 defendants to speak at the trial in the northern city. |
| The case has been dubbed "the Carlton affair" after the hotel. | The case has been dubbed "the Carlton affair" after the hotel. |
| Mr Kojfer admits to providing the contact details of prostitutes to a businessman, France's AFP news agency reports. | |
| Mr Strauss-Kahn and his 13 co-defendants lined up on Monday to hear the charges against them. | Mr Strauss-Kahn and his 13 co-defendants lined up on Monday to hear the charges against them. |
| Prosecutors in the trial allege that a ring of businessmen in the city of Lille supplied prostitutes for sex parties in Paris, Lille, and Washington. | Prosecutors in the trial allege that a ring of businessmen in the city of Lille supplied prostitutes for sex parties in Paris, Lille, and Washington. |
| "You are accused of aiding and abetting the prostitution of seven persons between 29 March 29 2008 and 4 October 2011, and of hiring and encouraging the prostitution of these same persons," Judge Bernard Lemaire said. | "You are accused of aiding and abetting the prostitution of seven persons between 29 March 29 2008 and 4 October 2011, and of hiring and encouraging the prostitution of these same persons," Judge Bernard Lemaire said. |
| Lurid details are likely to emerge over the course of the three-week trial, which will play host to a colourful cast of witnesses including policemen, prostitutes and a brothel owner. | Lurid details are likely to emerge over the course of the three-week trial, which will play host to a colourful cast of witnesses including policemen, prostitutes and a brothel owner. |
| "The court is not the guardian of morals but of the law and its proper application," Judge Lemaire added. | "The court is not the guardian of morals but of the law and its proper application," Judge Lemaire added. |
| Monday was taken up by procedural matters, with the defendants there only to hear the charges against them | Monday was taken up by procedural matters, with the defendants there only to hear the charges against them |
| The court rejected a request from the prosecutor for the trial to be held behind closed doors to protect the identity of prostitutes due to testify against Mr Strauss-Kahn and his co-defendants. | The court rejected a request from the prosecutor for the trial to be held behind closed doors to protect the identity of prostitutes due to testify against Mr Strauss-Kahn and his co-defendants. |
| Along with Mr Strauss-Kahn and Mr Kojfer, the court will hear from Belgian brothel owner Dominique Alderweireld - "Dodo the Pimp" - who prosecutors allege was a key part of the prostitution ring. | Along with Mr Strauss-Kahn and Mr Kojfer, the court will hear from Belgian brothel owner Dominique Alderweireld - "Dodo the Pimp" - who prosecutors allege was a key part of the prostitution ring. |
| Mr Alderweireld was convicted of a separate case of pimping - facilitating the act of prostitution - in 2005 and given a five-year suspended sentence. | Mr Alderweireld was convicted of a separate case of pimping - facilitating the act of prostitution - in 2005 and given a five-year suspended sentence. |
| In the wake of the allegations against Mr Strauss Kahn he renamed one of his clubs "DSK", insisting that it stood for "Dodo Sex Klub", but was forced to change the name again after the former IMF head took him to court. | In the wake of the allegations against Mr Strauss Kahn he renamed one of his clubs "DSK", insisting that it stood for "Dodo Sex Klub", but was forced to change the name again after the former IMF head took him to court. |
| Mr Strauss-Kahn denies knowing Mr Alderweireld. | Mr Strauss-Kahn denies knowing Mr Alderweireld. |
| It was during an investigation into Mr Kojfer and the activities at the hotel that police stumbled across Mr Strauss-Kahn's alleged involvement. | It was during an investigation into Mr Kojfer and the activities at the hotel that police stumbled across Mr Strauss-Kahn's alleged involvement. |
| Dominique Strauss-Kahn | Dominique Strauss-Kahn |
| One of the prostitutes who alleges she attended an orgy with Mr Strauss-Kahn said she had seen him with eight women at once. Sandrine Vandenschrik, who will give evidence at the trial, described the scene to police during the investigation. | One of the prostitutes who alleges she attended an orgy with Mr Strauss-Kahn said she had seen him with eight women at once. Sandrine Vandenschrik, who will give evidence at the trial, described the scene to police during the investigation. |
| "I was shocked," she said. "I didn't want to get involved in this carnage." | "I was shocked," she said. "I didn't want to get involved in this carnage." |
| Mr Strauss-Kahn has admitted attending group sex parties but denied knowing that women at the orgies were prostitutes, arguing that it was impossible to tell given that the women were naked. | Mr Strauss-Kahn has admitted attending group sex parties but denied knowing that women at the orgies were prostitutes, arguing that it was impossible to tell given that the women were naked. |
| "I challenge you to tell the difference between a naked prostitute and a naked woman of the world," said Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyer Henri Leclerc in 2011. | "I challenge you to tell the difference between a naked prostitute and a naked woman of the world," said Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyer Henri Leclerc in 2011. |
| As head of the International Monetary Fund, Mr Strauss-Kahn's career prospects once included president of France. Those prospects collapsed in 2011 when he was accused of sexual assault by a maid in a New York Hotel. | As head of the International Monetary Fund, Mr Strauss-Kahn's career prospects once included president of France. Those prospects collapsed in 2011 when he was accused of sexual assault by a maid in a New York Hotel. |
| Mr Strauss-Kahn stepped down from the IMF over the accusation and the charges were eventually dropped. He reached a settlement with the maid, Nafissatou Diallo. | Mr Strauss-Kahn stepped down from the IMF over the accusation and the charges were eventually dropped. He reached a settlement with the maid, Nafissatou Diallo. |
| The trial in Lille, which takes place before a judge rather than jury, is expected to take around three weeks. | The trial in Lille, which takes place before a judge rather than jury, is expected to take around three weeks. |
| Mr Strauss-Kahn is due to take the stand on 10 February. | Mr Strauss-Kahn is due to take the stand on 10 February. |
| If found guilty, Mr Strauss-Kahn could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 1.5m euros (£1.13m). | If found guilty, Mr Strauss-Kahn could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 1.5m euros (£1.13m). |