Gisele Pellico attended the hearing of all her tormentors. Next to her is her ex-husband Dominic Pellicott.Image: trapezoid
French woman Gisèle Pelicot was sedated and raped multiple times by herself and 50 other men. Now, the perpetrators are on trial — and in the public eye.
October 25, 2024 13:37October 25, 2024 15:27
He mixed sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication into his wife's food, invited men over the Internet and had them rape her – numerous times over nine years without her knowledge.
“I am a rapist,” the main defendant admitted in court. Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men are currently at the center of a first-of-its-kind abuse trial. Victims of such violence often remain anonymous. Out of protection—and out of shame.
Not so with Gisele Pellico. When she learned that she had been sexually abused by her husband and countless strangers for years while unconscious, she refused to remain silent. She channeled her rage, confronting her tormentors and insisting on a public trial.
On September 20, 2024, the defendant walked into the Avignon courtroom.Picture: www.imago-images.de
The defendant preferred not to be discovered. Many people wore masks as they went to the Avignon courthouse, where they had to protect themselves from early September to the end of December. They are not “monsters” living on the fringes of society. They are journalists, nurses or bakers, some are fathers, some have criminal records. Gisele Pellicot struggled at nearly every hearing. Your motto:
“Shame must change its stance.”
The 72-year-old said it was not the victims but the perpetrators who should be ashamed. With this attitude, she became a feminist icon almost overnight.
These are some of her alleged rapists.
Jacques C., 72
Former firefighter and pizzeria owner. He denies rape. Said he was “naive” and thought it was a game between husband and wife. The father of two “respects the complexity of women”.
Dominic D., 45
In 2015, Dominique Pelicot contacted the man through an online portal. He is looking for a Valentine's Day “gift” for his wife. Police discovered footage of five visits to Team Pellicott. He also denied the accusations: “I didn't wake up one morning and think, today I want to commit a crime.” He felt enough validation from Gisele Pellicot's husband that he completely forgot to ask for her consent .
Ahmed T., 54
The plumber, former boxing champion and father of three drove to the couple's home every night after his wife went to bed. He also didn't want to rape Pelicot. If that was his goal, he “wouldn't have chosen a 57-year-old woman, but a beautiful woman.”
Cyril D., 54
He admitted the crime in court. Butcher sought solace in an online portal – feeling “sexually frustrated” in his relationship. His childhood was violent and he spent his teenage years in a nursing home. Regarding the accusations, he said: “I'm sorry, I was naive, a bit stupid, an idiot.” In prison he understood that women did not belong to men.
John K., 26
The youngest of all defendants in the trial was a French army soldier. He was 22 years old when he visited Pellicott's home twice. He acted naive in court. “I'm a rapist because that's what the law says.” He did find it odd that Gisele Pellico snored. But at the time he didn't know what consent meant.
Redouin E., 55
His attempted explanation was particularly surprising: It was alleged that the trained anesthetist nurse did not notice that the person he was speaking to had become unconscious. He believed she was playing dead, so he pleaded not guilty and instead painted himself as the victim of a scam.
A Moroccan wanted to adopt a girl with his second wife but was disappointed when the case against him was dropped.
The Pellicott case sparked a great deal of solidarity. This is a demonstration in Paris on September 14, 2024.Image: trapezoid
Some of the 51 defendants face up to 20 years in prison. A verdict is expected in December.
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