A shocking trial has begun in Avignon, France, involving Dominique Pélicot, 71, and 50 other men accused of systematically raping Gisèle Pélicot, 72, over a decade. Gisèle, who has bravely waived her right to anonymity, testified about the horrific abuse she endured, allegedly orchestrated by her husband of 50 years.The case came to light in late 2020 when Dominique was caught taking inappropriate photos of women in a supermarket. This led to a police investigation that uncovered thousands of photos and videos on Dominique’s devices, showing men raping Gisèle while she appeared to be unconscious. Prosecutors have documented at least 92 instances of rape between 2011 and 2020.Gisèle described the moment she discovered the truth: ‘The world collapsed. Everything I built over 50 years was crumbling,’ she told the court. She emphasized that she never consented to these acts and was unaware of them due to being drugged. ‘I was treated like a rag doll,’ Gisèle stated, urging the accused to take responsibility for their actions.The trial has revealed disturbing details about how the abuse was organized. Men were allegedly recruited through an adult website and given specific instructions when visiting the couple’s home. The accused range in age from 22 to 74 and come from various walks of life, including healthcare workers, firefighters, and IT specialists.Gisèle’s testimony serves not only to seek justice for herself but also to raise awareness for other potential victims. ‘I speak for all the women who are drugged and do not know, I do this in the name of all the women who may never know,’ she said. The trial is expected to continue until December, with the accused facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Key points
- Gisèle Pélicot, 72, is testifying against her husband and 50 other men accused of systematically raping her over a decade.
- The abuse was discovered in 2020 when thousands of photos and videos were found on Dominique Pélicot’s devices.
- Gisèle was allegedly drugged and unaware of the assaults, which occurred at least 92 times between 2011 and 2020.
- The trial is expected to last until December, with the accused facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Contradictions👾While most sources report 51 men on trial including Dominique Pélicot, some articles mention 72 suspects, which may include those not yet brought to trial.
