Horror trial of husband who ‘invited 50 males to rape spouse’ – and their excuses
A husband allegedly drugged his wife before allowing dozens of men to rape her in a disturbing trial that has gripped the world.
Dominique Pélicot, 71, is accused of sending out invitations to recruiters with phrases such as “you’re like me – you like rape mode.”
The pensioner allegedly slipped tranquillisers into his partner’s dinner before filming men abusing her inside her own home over a nine-year period.
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Pélicot – along with 51 other men identified on camera including firemen and civil servants – is now on trial charged with the aggravated rape of his wife, Gisèle Pélicot, 72, who bravely waived her right to anonymity.
(Image: Supplied)
The harrowing trial at Vaucluse Criminal Court in the French city of Avignon started this week and is expected to last four months – and below we go through what we know so far.
Who are the Pélicots?
French couple Dominique and Gisèle lived in a big family chalet in Mazon, 70 miles from Marseille, after moving from Paris in 1991.
They have three children who were regular visitors and according to court evidence, they were seen as “lovely people” who hosted parties in their tidy garden with a swimming pool.
Retired Pélicot used to be an EDF utility worker and on Monday (September 2) the judge asked him to confirm his address and he replied: “My home is prison, you know it.”
‘Rape ring’
Between 2011 and 2020, Pelicot allegedly orchestrated a rape ring in which he organised twisted fantasies involving his unconscious wife.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Approximately 20,000 images of her being assaulted by 72 strangers were later found at the home he shared with her.
He used tags like ‘her rapists’, ‘abuse’ and ‘my slut’ when filing the footage before keeping the names and details of the attackers.
They were reportedly recruited after the husband approached voyeurs and swingers on an online forum called ‘Without Her Knowing’.
He allegedly imposed rules on them including parking away from his house, avoiding perfume, having cut and clean nails and rubbing their hands in hot water before touching his drugged wife.
His lawyer, Beatrice Zavarro, said: “He is ashamed of what he did, it is unforgivable. My client’s line of conduct is that he recognises what he did and there has not been an ounce of protest since the beginning.”
His footage led to 51 out of 72 men being identified by police, but the others were unidentifiable, and have therefore escaped justice after the case was closed. The 51 men standing trial have denied any wrongdoing.
Gisèle meanwhile was oblivious to the abuse, but she later told a pre-trial hearing: “He disgusts me. I feel dirty, defiled, betrayed. It was a tsunami. I was hit by a high-speed train.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
She also revealed she had tried to take her own life several times after learning what had been done to her.
How did the crimes come to light?
Gisèle came to believe she was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease after years of drugging before learning she had gynaecological issues.
The court heard how Pélicot supposedly laughed at this and insinuated that she was a cheat after asking: “So, what are you doing with your days?”
(Image: Supplied)
But police became aware of him after he was caught upskirting women at a supermarket in November 2020 before cops searched his home where the USB drive titled ‘Abuses’ was found.
Why the other men expect to be cleared
The other men accused of aggravated rape are aged between 26 and 73 and include restaurateurs, plumbers, firemen, civil servants, soldiers and shopkeepers.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
One denied raping the victim because he believed the encounter was consensual. He said: “It’s his wife, he does what he likes with her.”
But according to the victim’s lawyer, looking at just one of the videos would have shown that Gisèle looked ‘dead’ and was oblivious to what was happening.
Other men listed reasons why they should not be prosecuted – including one who said they did not know she was asleep as she was lying face down.
The trial, which has shocked the French public, is expected to last until December.
