Elected official, teacher and computer scientist amongst 10 people on trial for cyberbullying France's first lady

The trial of 10 people accused of spreading false and malicious rumours about France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, has begun in Paris.

According to international correspondent, Adam Gilchrist, the case centres on claims circulated online alleging that Macron was born a man named Jean-Michel Trogneux (the name of her brother), and that she later transitioned. 

Gilchrist said the accused include a teacher, a computer scientist, an elected official, and a self-described medium.

He added that Macron’s daughter Tiphaine gave emotional testimony on the opening day, describing how the rumours had deeply affected their family life, telling the court it had become difficult to live normally under the weight of public scrutiny and misinformation, which had damaged both her mother’s and her own well-being.

"You can see why she wants to lop it off before it goes any further."

To listen to Adam Gilchrist in conversation with 702's Bongani Bingwa, click the audio below: