'I am a rapist', admits husband in French mass rape trial

In a shocking case that has captured the attention of many, Dominique Pelicot, a 71-year-old man, has admitted to serious crimes against his ex-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, during a trial in Avignon, France. The trial began on September 2, and Mr. Pelicot is accused of drugging Gisèle and allowing numerous men to sexually assault her over a period of more than ten years. In his first testimony, he openly declared, 'I am a rapist like the others in this room,' acknowledging his guilt alongside the 50 other defendants who are also facing charges. While only 15 of these men have admitted to the crime of rape, the rest claim they were involved in consensual sexual acts. Mr. Pelicot expressed remorse for his actions, stating, 'She did not deserve this,' and reminisced about the happiness he once shared with Gisèle. Gisèle, who was given the opportunity to respond shortly after her ex-husband's testimony, expressed her pain, saying, 'It is difficult for me to listen to this. ' She reflected on the 50 years she spent with a man she never thought could commit such heinous acts, emphasizing the trust she had placed in him. The trial is open to the public, a decision made by Gisèle herself, who chose to waive her right to anonymity. Her legal team believes that this openness will help shift the shame back onto the accused rather than the victim. As Gisèle exited the courtroom during a break, she was met with applause from supporters, and she graciously accepted flowers from those who came to show their solidarity. Since the trial commenced, Gisèle has emerged as a powerful symbol of resilience and courage, inspiring many across France. Last weekend, thousands of people gathered in various cities to demonstrate their support for her and other victims of sexual violence. Mr. Pelicot, who is also a father and grandfather, began his testimony by recounting traumatic experiences from his own childhood, including being abused by a male nurse at the age of nine. When questioned about his marriage to Gisèle, he revealed that he contemplated suicide upon discovering her infidelity. Throughout his testimony, he repeatedly insisted that he never hated Gisèle, stating, 'I was crazy about her. I loved her immensely and I still do. ' He added, 'I loved her well for 40 years and badly for 10,' indicating that the last decade of their relationship was marked by his abusive behavior. During the proceedings, one of Gisèle's lawyers, Stéphane Babonneau, pressed Mr. Pelicot on why he failed to stop the abuse, especially as Gisèle began to experience serious health issues. Gisèle had expressed concerns about developing Alzheimer’s or a brain tumor due to significant memory loss and other symptoms, which were later revealed to be side effects of the drugs her husband had been administering. Mr. Pelicot admitted, 'I tried to stop, but my addiction was stronger, the need was growing. ' He acknowledged that he had betrayed Gisèle's trust and should have ceased his actions much earlier. Additionally, Mr. Pelicot faces accusations of drugging and abusing his daughter, Caroline, after disturbing photos were discovered on his laptop. He has denied these allegations and asserted that he has never harmed his grandchildren. 'I can look my family in the eyes and tell them that nothing else occurred,' he claimed. Mr. Pelicot explained that he became 'perverted' after meeting a male nurse online in 2010, who suggested drugging Gisèle with a sedative. 'That's when it all clicked,' he said, indicating that this encounter marked the beginning of his abusive behavior. During the trial, Mr. Pelicot was also questioned about the thousands of videos he recorded of men assaulting his unconscious wife. These videos were crucial in identifying the 50 men now facing charges of rape. He admitted that he filmed these acts partly for 'pleasure' but also as a form of 'insurance. ' Throughout his testimony, Mr. Pelicot seemed determined to counter the defense strategy of several accused men, who claimed they did not realize they were raping Gisèle, believing instead that they were engaging in consensual activities. He stated that he met these men in a chat room called 'Without her knowledge' on a now-defunct website that featured pornographic content. 'I didn't force anyone; they came to look for me,' he insisted. He claimed that the men must have known they were being filmed, as there was a tripod and a screen visible in the room. Mr. Pelicot expressed his desire to prove that Gisèle was a victim and not an accomplice, acknowledging that many defendants have disputed this claim. His lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, commented on the situation, stating that she was unsure how the public would perceive her client, but emphasized that he was 'sharing his truth. ' She described Mr. Pelicot as 'very downtrodden' and noted that while she did not know how Gisèle would react to his request for forgiveness, the confession process was underway. 'We will get to the end of this trial, and we will know everything about Dominique Pelicot,' she stated. Mr. Pelicot, who has been dealing with health issues, including a kidney infection and kidney stones, was absent from court for nearly a week. He is expected to continue his testimony throughout the day, with allowances for frequent breaks.