Dominique Pelicot, a 71-year-old man on trial for his involvement in the drugging and mass rape of his ex-wife Gisèle, has confessed to all charges against him. During his testimony, which occurred on September 2, he expressed that he shares culpability with the 50 other defendants, stating, “I am a rapist like the others in this room.” He insisted that they were all aware of the abuse, emphasizing, “They all knew, they cannot say the contrary.” Presently, only 15 out of the defendants have acknowledged the charges of rape, while the majority claim their involvement was limited to sexual acts.
Pelicot expressed remorse towards his ex-wife, saying, “She did not deserve this,” and appealed for forgiveness from her and his family, calling his actions “unacceptable.” Gisèle responded to his admissions by expressing her disbelief, stating, “It is difficult for me to listen to this. For 50 years, I lived with a man who I would’ve never imagined could be capable of this. I trusted him completely.” The trial is publicly open, following Gisèle’s choice to waive her anonymity in a move intended to shift the shame onto the accused.
As she exited the courtroom during a recess, Gisèle received applause and flowers from supporters, reinforcing her status as a figure of resilience amid a national dialogue on marital rape and consent, ignited by the trial. Demonstrations across France in support of Gisèle and other victims have highlighted prevailing issues surrounding these topics.
In his testimony, Pelicot detailed his traumatic childhood, including being abused by a male nurse at age nine. He revealed feelings of despair upon discovering his wife’s infidelity, suggesting that this knowledge pushed him toward suicidal thoughts. Nonetheless, he insisted throughout his testimony that he never harbored hatred for Gisèle, declaring, “I loved her immensely and I still do.” He acknowledged that he had loved her well for 40 years before their relationship turned dramatically over the last decade, during which he admitted to committing the abusive acts. The court then questioned him on why he continued the abuse despite recognizing his wife’s declining health.