Topics: News, World News, Crime
Warning: this article discusses rape and SA which some readers may find distressing.
Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old woman who is currently at the centre of a shocking trial that has scandalised France, took to the stand today (5 September).
The mother-of-three is facing her husband, Dominique Pelicot, who is accused of 'abusing her for over 10 years' by drugging her food and raping her, as well as inviting other men over to commit the same heinous act.
Gisèle waived her right to anonymity in the trial, instead striving for 'complete publicity until the end', and so that 'shame changes sides.'
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The alleged abuse is reported to have ended as a result of Dominique being arrested in 2020, after he was caught filming up unsuspecting women's skirts - also known as 'upskirting'.
Police then searched the Pelicot home and found a file on his computer labelled 'ABUSES' that included his wife being raped.
More than 20,000 images of Gisèle being abused since 2011 were uncovered.
Dominique is reported to have procured 450 sleeping tablets in one year.
Alongside Dominique, 50 men are in court accused of partaking in the rape of Gisèle. 35 deny forcing themselves upon her.
A further 22 attackers were unable to be traced by police.
Bravely taking the stand today, Gisèle has revealed the tragic conclusion she came to in the midst of her abuse - that she had Alzheimers.
She stated to the courtroom: "I didn’t understand why I had moments like this."
It was then explained that Gisèle jokingly asked her husband if he had been drugging her.
The accused then broke down in tears and said: "You actually think I could do that?"
Her husband then accompanied her to see doctors about her presumed Alzheimers, where she was told she may have been suffering from a 'brain seizure'.
One of Gisèle's lawyers, Stéphane Babonneau, said: "One morning she woke in a panic with a new haircut without understanding how this was possible. She went to her hairdresser, who told her she had been in the previous day."
Dominique's lawyer stated his client has 'always declared himself guilty' claiming he said: “I put her to sleep, I offered her, and I filmed.”
It is alleged that Dominique instructed the men, who he recruited on an online chatroom - which has since been shut down - to wash their hands and not wear aftershave or smoke tobacco, so she would not sense that they were strangers.
In more comments made to the court, Gisèle stated: "When I told my daughter, she screamed like a wild beast. I will never forget this. When I told my sons about this, I don’t think they really understood, they were withdrawn and didn’t react much. I think they were in a state of shock. They said 'don’t say such silly things'.
“The evening, the children rang all the time saying don’t disappear, they were worried I might die."
The trial is expected to last until December.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.
