Gisèle Pélicot, a 72-year-old French woman, testified in court about the alleged abuses she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband, Dominique Pélicot, and more than 50 other men. Dominique was accused of drugging and filming the assaults on Gisèle over a period of nearly 10 years, from 2011 to 2020. Police were able to track down 50 of the men involved before the trial, which began recently. Gisèle waived her right to a closed trial in the hopes that her public testimony would help other survivors of sexual crimes.
Gisèle revealed in court that she was so heavily drugged with a mixture of medications that she had no idea the alleged rapes were occurring in her own home. She contracted multiple sexually transmitted infections during the abuse, as Dominique reportedly forced the men to not wear condoms, including one who was HIV positive. Gisèle described the abuse she endured as “scenes of barbarity, of rape,” and claimed that the men treated her like a “rag doll” or a “garbage bag.” She emphasized that the defendants consciously participated in the assaults and questioned why they did not go to the police to report the crimes.
Dominique Pélicot’s alleged house rules for the men involved in the abuse included wearing no scent, thorough hand-washing, and removing their clothing before entering the bedroom where the assaults took place. Gisèle testified that some of the defendants had to wait nearby for up to 90 minutes for her to fall unconscious before participating in the assaults. A toxicologist testified that Gisèle had been administered a cocktail of medications that can cause unconsciousness, leading to memory gaps during the years the abuses occurred.
The trial, which started this week, is set to continue for the next four months. If found guilty, each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for their involvement in the alleged abuse. Gisèle expressed determination to fight for justice until the end, stating that she has “so much to say” about her experiences. She hopes that her testimony will bring awareness to the issue of sexual crimes and possibly help other survivors in similar situations. The case has attracted attention in France as a disturbing example of long-term, organized sexual abuse perpetrated against one individual.
Gisèle Pélicot and Dominique Pélicot were married for 50 years before the extent of the alleged abuse came to light in 2020. Gisèle shared that the abuse she endured was unbearable and included acts of rape and violence. She emphasized that she was a victim who was manipulated and sacrificed by her ex-husband and the other men involved. The case has raised questions about the responsibility of those who observed or participated in the abuses and the importance of speaking out against such crimes.
