A French woman whose ex-husband allegedly drugged her for years to facilitate her rape by other men testified Thursday in a court in Avignon, southern France. Gisèle Pélicot detailed the horror of discovering that her former spouse had systematically filmed the suspected rapes by dozens of men.
Dominique Pélicot, 71, and 50 other men are on trial for charges of aggravated rape, facing up to 20 years in prison. The trial, which began Monday, is expected to continue until December.
Speaking calmly and clearly, Gisèle Pélicot told the court, “It’s unbearable. I have so much to say that I don’t always know where to start.” She described how her world collapsed when police uncovered the alleged abuse in late 2020.
The case came to light when a security agent caught Dominique Pélicot photographing women’s crotches in a supermarket. A subsequent police investigation of his phone and computer revealed thousands of images and videos allegedly showing men raping Gisèle while she was unconscious.
Gisèle Pélicot left her husband of 50 years immediately after police showed her some of the images. “For me, everything collapses,” she testified. “These are scenes of barbarity, of rape.”
Investigators found communications allegedly sent by Dominique Pélicot on a now-shuttered messaging website used by criminals, inviting men to sexually abuse his wife. The alleged abuses began in 2011, with Dominique Pélicot reportedly establishing elaborate rules for the men entering their home.
During earlier questioning, Dominique Pélicot told investigators that participants had to follow specific guidelines, including not talking loudly, removing clothes in the kitchen, and avoiding perfume or tobacco smells.
Gisèle Pélicot testified, “I was sacrificed on the altar of vice. They regarded me like a rag doll, like a garbage bag.” She insisted on a public trial in solidarity with other unrecognized victims of sexual crimes.
Police tracked down most of the 72 suspects over two years, thanks to the videos Dominique Pélicot allegedly recorded. Some defendants deny the accusations, claiming manipulation by Pélicot.
The trial will see defendants appear in small groups before five judges. Psychologists, psychiatrists, and computer experts are also scheduled to testify.
