A woman recounts her years of abuse after her husband secretly drugged her, allowing dozens of men to rape her over nearly a decade.
In a harrowing testimony at the Vaucluse criminal court in Avignon, France, 72-year-old Gisele Pelicot recounted her ordeal of being drugged and raped by strangers, orchestrated by her own husband. The public trial involves 51 men, including her husband, accused of subjecting her to years of sexual abuse between 2011 and 2020.
The horrifying discovery came to light in 2020 when police arrested Pelicot’s husband, Dominique, for taking inappropriate photographs in a supermarket. A search of his phone and computer uncovered thousands of images and videos, documenting the repeated rapes of his drugged wife. The abuse, secretly filmed by Dominique, was largely facilitated through contacts on an adult website.
Reflecting on the moment she first saw the evidence, Pelicot told the court how her life shattered upon realizing the extent of the betrayal. “Everything I had built with Mr. Pelicot collapsed,” she said, recalling the moment police showed her photos of the assaults. At first, she did not even recognize herself in the images. Upon reaching the third photo, she asked officers to stop. “These are not just rape scenes—they are acts of barbarism,” she remarked.
Pelicot’s husband, 71, admitted his guilt on the third day of the trial, confirming the allegations against him. His meticulous record-keeping, including a folder labeled “abuse,” allowed authorities to identify around 200 instances of rape, many of which were perpetrated by strangers. Dominique himself participated in most of the assaults.
The trial is not only a deeply personal battle for Pelicot but also a demand for public awareness of the extent of the abuse. She insisted on a public trial to ensure the full truth is revealed. Her lawyer, Stephane Babonneau, warned that the legal proceedings would involve “extremely difficult moments” for Pelicot as she faces her husband and other accused rapists in court.
Despite the sensitive nature of the case, Pelicot remained determined to testify. Lawyers for the defense have tried to cast doubt on her awareness of the decade-long abuse, questioning whether the couple had a libertine relationship. However, this line of questioning visibly upset Pelicot, as well as her children, who briefly left the courtroom in disgust.
Eighteen of the 51 men accused, including Dominique Pelicot, are currently in custody, while the remaining defendants are out on bail. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison for aggravated rape. The trial is expected to continue through December 20.
(Associated Medias) – All rights reserved