A French woman who prosecutors say was raped by dozens of men while drugged by her husband, has told a court of her horror at learning how she had been abused over a period of 10 years.
Gisèle Pélicot who is 72 was giving evidence in the trial of 51 men, including her husband of 50 years, Dominique. All are accused of rape.
Documents before the court show that Dominique Pélicot, 71, admitted to police that he got satisfaction from watching other men have sex with his unconscious wife.
Many of the defendants deny the rape charge against them, claiming they thought they were taking part in a consensual sex game. But Gisèle Pélicot told the court she was “never complicit” in the sexual acts and had not pretended to be asleep.
This is a case that has shocked France,, as the details emerge in a public trial in the city of Avignon. Gisèle Pélicot waived her right to anonymity in order to shift the “shame” onto the accused, her legal team has said.
Taking the stand in court, she said she was speaking for “every woman who has been drugged without knowing it, so that no woman has to suffer.”
Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Andrew Harding.
For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news
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30 Comments
His wife, children and daughter-in-law must be very traumatized 😢
After this case arose, I feel have no interested in men again, I didn't even want to get married because I was afraid of getting a devil men.
Even though not all men are bad, but it is also not easy to find a good man around us.
There are also good and bad women in the world, but most women are victims of harassment by bad man.
The point is that humans are much scarier in this world because we don't know, they hide it so we can't see, and we can't read their minds.
The number of perverted humans in societies is really really concerning and dissapointing
Pure evil
Humans must really like sex. The things people do is incredible! Here in the United States there is a similar case like this type of abuse. The perpetrator is in custody.
"They assumed her husband's consent was enough."
We clearly still have a very long road ahead of us as a society.
I find this so disturbing it's hard to believe. how does someone drug you hundred of times and you have no clue? how? you go about your life with blackout nights and no suspicions something is happening..? I just find it unbelievable this man was able to get her the perfect amount of whatever drugs he was giving her for her to wake up perfectly fine every time with no questions asked. not one time did dhe wake up during ? thisbhusband must be a prescription magician. this part of the story is more unbelievable than the many criminal men that did this to her.. doesnt surprise me one bit that many men would do this and never tell authorities. but the husband drugging her over and over and over and over and she had no clue is unbelievable
Say her name
There is a similar case in Singapore just with more victims (read wives) where husbands were swapping drugged wives.
😮😮😮😮
It’s only women commenting… where are the men😏😏
You Men are pure horror!!! Diabolical creatures! It is a universal reality 😭
Yeah, forget the immigrant, the miniorities, femminist, the poor, the all the other scapegoating our old white patriarical far right politicians use, …when are we going to talk about our man problem?! And raising our boys to be accountable.
What is really tragic NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THEM REPORTED. even the ones that left after realizing she is drugged. Not one. Men solidarity? Sick world.
Why there is so many evil people? Every generation, every country, city, village. Where the f do they come from?!
I cant immagine the trauma for her. How can she sleep peacefully now that she knows that things have happened without her consent while she was sleeping? She will doubt everytime if she slept normally or did someone drugged her again? How horrible some people are in this world.
I watched a movie of this long time ago ……
I think her abuse as gone on longer in other ways before this.A mention of jealousy of a only thought affair .And drugging a partner he rapes first,to inflict suffering.So hence a personality disorder.And I speak for others to,we are sick of courts getting around this not mentioning it,and just saying rape.It is not being recognised as a fatal dangerous thing in society to others.And constantly sentences are being lessened due to courts lack of care,diverting it every time a case comes up,or assaults, with little sentences so they do it again automatically when getting out.
Absolutely unfathomable.
This is so sick and evil, I can’t think of any words to describe how horrible this is. She was betrayed by one of the people she should have been able to trust most in life. To inflict this level of physical and mental trauma on someone is unfathomable, let alone someone you supposedly love. The medical professionals severely let her down too. I can’t imagine the pain and shock she felt seeing those videos of herself and realizing what happened – thinking about it makes my stomach drop. I am in awe of her bravery and strength for being able to face the world, share her story, and bring awareness to these all too common situations of abuse and trafficking. She is truly an inspiration.
How many of the rapists' wives think their Nigel husband is special??
She's such a strong women to rise above the humiliation and bring justice to what's been done to her ❤
Why are people SO evil
I’m sorry I see you!! ❤
So disgusting what men are capable of. And her own husband. The man she is supposed to trust.
is this really the true nature of what men really are?
French women you MUST UNITE YOUR POWER and get the identification of those men revealed as a mission.
Her story didn't just shake France, it shook the whole world.
She is very strong and very brave. I pray she continues to heal quickly
I'm glad they aren't afraid to use the word rape, unlike American news outlets. About the only good thing I have to say about the BBC.