Warning: The following story contains disturbing details.
AVIGNON. In a deeply disturbing case unfolding in France, 71-year-old Dominique Pelicot admitted to raping his wife, Gisèle, for over a decade, while allowing dozens of men to also abuse her without her knowledge. Pelicot confessed to drugging his then-wife, filming the assaults, and recruiting up to 50 other men to take part in the abuse.
“I am a rapist like the others in this room,” Pelicot said during his testimony, acknowledging his involvement along with the other co-defendants on trial. While only 15 of the accused men have admitted to rape, the remaining defendants argue that they believed the sexual acts were consensual or that they were manipulated by Pelicot.
The abuse came to light after thousands of videos were discovered by investigators, many of which documented the horrific acts. Gisèle, now Pelicot’s ex-wife, waived her right to anonymity at the start of the trial, hoping to shed light on the abuse and shift the shame to the perpetrators.
“It is difficult for me to listen to this,” Gisèle said in court. “For 50 years, I lived with a man who I would’ve never imagined could be capable of this. I trusted him completely.”
Pelicot’s defense lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, told the court that her client was “sharing his truth” but acknowledged the gravity of his actions. Pelicot expressed regret during his testimony, admitting that his “addiction” to the abuse grew stronger over time and that he should have stopped sooner.
The trial, which is open to the public at Gisèle’s request, continues to unfold with testimony from other defendants, many of whom deny knowing that the assaults were non-consensual. Pelicot has also been accused of drugging and abusing his daughter, although he denies these claims.
As the trial proceeds, Gisèle’s legal team remains focused on proving that she was a victim and had no knowledge of the abuse that took place. Pelicot, who faces serious charges, will continue giving his testimony throughout the trial.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
