The trial of Dominique Pélicot and 50 other defendants for the systematic rape of his wife enters its final stretch

The media trial against Dominique Pelicot and 50 other defendants, related to systematic rapes under the effects of sedatives Gisèle Pelicotis moving toward its conclusion after 11 weeks of hearings at the Avignon Court in southeastern France. The final interrogations began this Monday with statements from key defendants, such as Nicolas F., a journalist, and Joseph C., a retiree, followed by other defendants in the afternoon.

This week the intervention of Gisèle and Dominique’s children is expected, David and Florian Pélicot. David publicly thanked the support received since the beginning of the trial, while his sister Caroline Darianwho already testified at the beginning of the process, could testify again if he considers it necessary, like his mother. The trial, which began on September 2, has gathered testimonies from more than 100 people, including defendants, family members and experts.

Case details and confessions

Dominique Pélicot, 71, faces accusations as the main author of a decade of abuse. According to what has been documented, he drugged his wife to leave her unconscious and allowed dozens of men, contacted through the Internet, to rape her at their home in Mazan. Gisèle, who was unaware of the events due to the effects of the drugs, suffered health problems that she attributed to undiagnosed ailments.

Of the 51 defendants, 15 have admitted their guilt, while 35 have denied it, arguing ignorance of the crime or pressure from Pélicot. an accused, Hassan O., is a fugitive. The abuse was discovered in 2020 when Pélicot was caught filming under women’s clothing in a supermarket, leading to a police investigation that revealed incriminating material.

An international feminist symbol

The case has garnered global attention, with 165 media outlets accredited to cover the trial. Gisèle Pélicot has become a symbol of feminism, by deciding to make her case public to “change the shame on its side,” as she stated. His bravery has been recognized with daily applause in court, especially from female attendees.

The president of the Court, Roger Aratahas established a schedule for the final stages of the process: this week it will be the turn of the sentences requests by the prosecution and the prosecution, while the defenses will begin next week. The sentence is expected on December 20.