France Mass Rape Trial: Dominique Pelicot Asks for Forgiveness

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Facts

• Dominique Pélicot, 71, the French man charged with drugging his wife and allowing dozens of men to rape her over a ten-year period, said Tuesday, 'I am a rapist.' He also said he 'regret[s]' his actions and asked his wife, daughter, and grandchildren for forgiveness.^[1][2]
• Referring to the other men on trial for raping his wife Gisèle, who was unaware the entire time as she was sedated, Pélicot said 'they all knew' what they were doing. The 50 codefendants, including a nurse, a fireman, and a journalist, are aged 26-74.^[3][4]
• Pélicot claimed all the other men committed rape voluntarily, with over a dozen of them admitting guilt. However, one defense attorney argued that Pélicot manipulated his clients by creating the illusion of consensual acts.^[2]
• During the trial, Pélicot was also accused of drugging and/or taking nude photos of his daughter, grandchildren, and two daughters-in-law. When he denied drugging his daughter, she stood up in the courtroom and shouted 'You're lying!'^[5]
• Pélicot cited childhood trauma as reasons for his actions later in life, including that his parents 'assaulted each other,' and that he had suffered and witnessed sexual abuse earlier in his life. He said, 'You're not born this way, you become it.'^[4]
• Gisèle, who now lives with HIV after contracting it from one of the men, also spoke to the court. She said, 'it’s difficult to listen to Mr Pélicot because in 50 years, I never imagined for a second that he could rape,' adding she 'had full trust in that man.'^[3]

Sources: ^[1]Reuters, ^[2]New York Times, ^[3]Guardian, ^[4]Le Monde.fr and ^[5]The Telegraph.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Holly Richardson. This extremely shocking case contains distressing details, but that is nothing compared to what Gisèle has and will continue to endure. For 10 years she went unaware of her abuses, and now she must re-live it all as Dominique stands trial. As the court rightly pursues justice for Dominique's victims, that's not all that should come of it. The government should expand its legal definition of rape to specifically include when a rapist uses drugs to 'impair' the victim.
• Narrative B, as provided by BBC News. While Giséle's bravery in dealing with this legal process should certainly be applauded, it's questionable whether she should have the right to publicly reveal the identities of the accused in this trial. Some senior lawyers have suggested that such information should only be scrutinized once individuals have been convicted to avoid stigma and judgment for those who may be innocent. Anonymity is a key protection that should have been afforded in this case.
• Narrative C, as provided by EL PAÍS English. The case of Dominique Pélicot stretches back decades before he began abusing his wife, having been accused of raping a woman in 1991 and confessing to the rape of another in 1999. He was likely able to get away with this due to his ability to curate a positive public image while hiding his dark personal life, which likely includes his alleged offenses against other relatives. Hopefully, this case will help the world identify and deter future psychosexual predators.