Wife Allegedly Drugged by Husband So Dozens of Men Could Rape Her Calls Case a 'Trial of Cowardice'

Mar. 15, 2025

Gisele Pelicot on Nov. 13, 2024 in Avignon, France.Photo:Arnold Jerocki/Getty

Arnold Jerocki/Getty

Dominique Pelicot has been accused of drugging his wife Gisèle and inviting dozens of men to rape her over the course of nearly a decadeOn Tuesday, Nov. 19, Gisèle appeared in court in Avignon, France and made her final statements in the trial of the 51 men, including her husband“For me this is the trial of cowardice, there is no other way to describe it," she told the court, per multiple outletsThe French woman whose husband is accused ofdrugging her and inviting dozens of men to rape herover nearly 10 years has made her final statements in court.On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Gisèle Pelicot, 71, appeared in court in Avignon, France, where her husband of 50 years, Dominique Pélicot, also 71, is on trial along with 50 other men.According toNBC News,The GuardianandReuters, Gisèle told the court, “For me this is the trial of cowardice, there is no other way to describe it.”“It’s time that the macho, patriarchal society that trivializes rape changes … It’s time we changed the way we look at rape,” she added, per the outlets.Of the 51 men on trial — whose ages range between 26 and 74 — she said, perThe Guardian, “For me they are all guilty. It’s not for me to judge, the court will do its work.”Gisèle Pelicot arrives at court on Oct. 10, 2024.CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty“I’ve lost 10 years of my life that I’ll never make up for … This scar will never heal,” Gisèle continued, adding that she would never “find peace” over the ordeal and that the 51 men had “sullied” her.“I’ve seen people take the stand who deny rape, and some who admit it. I want to say to these men: when you entered that bedroom, at what point did Madame Pelicot give you her consent?” she said, speaking about herself in the third person, according to the outlet.“At what point did you become aware of this inert body? At what point did you realize there was something happening that was not normal? Did you leave straight away? At what point did you not report it to the police?” She continued.Gisèle Pelicot arrives at court on Sept. 10, 2024.Sipa via APDominique appeared in court in September where heconfessed to his crimesand admitted, “I am a rapist.“He also told the court heregularly crushed drugs in his wife’s food, including her favorite dessert — raspberry ice cream, perThe Telegraph"I used to say to him, ‘How lucky am I, you’re a darling, you really look after me,’ " Gisèle told the trial last month, per theBBC.On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the court heard a 2020 police statement from Dominque where he said that he “facilitated the rapes” and admitted that “between 30 and 50 people” have come to their house “to have sex with my wife,” per theBBC.The previous day, the couple’s three children appeared in court and described their “devastation” at learning about what their father did, according toThe Guardian.Per the outlet, Dominique asked the couple’s eldest son David Pelicot, 50, for forgiveness, but he replied, “Never.”Gisèle Pelicot (C) sits beside her daughter Caroline Darian (L) and her son in court in September 2024.CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via GettyWant to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.According to the outlet and NBC News, the couple’s daughter Caroline Darian, 45, also said she believed her father had drugged and abused her.In response, Dominique said that he had never abused his daughter or any of his grandchildren, perThe Guardian.Gisèle didn’t find out about the assaults against her until 2020 when police told her that they’d found pictures and videos on Dominique’s computer,The Timespreviously reported. The findings came amid accusations that Dominique  — whom Gisèle filed for divorce from in 2021 — had filmed up three women’s skirts in a supermarket.Last month, she told the court she had chosen to have an open trial so that “all women who [are] victims of rape can say to themselves ‘Madame Pelicot did it, we can do it.’ I don’t want them to feel ashamed anymore,” per French outletLe Monde.According to NBC News, the trial will deliver its verdicts and sentences around Dec. 20.If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

The French woman whose husband is accused ofdrugging her and inviting dozens of men to rape herover nearly 10 years has made her final statements in court.

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Gisèle Pelicot, 71, appeared in court in Avignon, France, where her husband of 50 years, Dominique Pélicot, also 71, is on trial along with 50 other men.

According toNBC News,The GuardianandReuters, Gisèle told the court, “For me this is the trial of cowardice, there is no other way to describe it.”

“It’s time that the macho, patriarchal society that trivializes rape changes … It’s time we changed the way we look at rape,” she added, per the outlets.

Of the 51 men on trial — whose ages range between 26 and 74 — she said, perThe Guardian, “For me they are all guilty. It’s not for me to judge, the court will do its work.”

Gisèle Pelicot arrives at court on Oct. 10, 2024.CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty

CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty

“I’ve lost 10 years of my life that I’ll never make up for … This scar will never heal,” Gisèle continued, adding that she would never “find peace” over the ordeal and that the 51 men had “sullied” her.

“I’ve seen people take the stand who deny rape, and some who admit it. I want to say to these men: when you entered that bedroom, at what point did Madame Pelicot give you her consent?” she said, speaking about herself in the third person, according to the outlet.

“At what point did you become aware of this inert body? At what point did you realize there was something happening that was not normal? Did you leave straight away? At what point did you not report it to the police?” She continued.

Gisèle Pelicot arrives at court on Sept. 10, 2024.Sipa via AP

Sipa via AP

Dominique appeared in court in September where heconfessed to his crimesand admitted, “I am a rapist.”

He also told the court heregularly crushed drugs in his wife’s food, including her favorite dessert — raspberry ice cream, perThe Telegraph

“I used to say to him, ‘How lucky am I, you’re a darling, you really look after me,’ " Gisèle told the trial last month, per theBBC.

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the court heard a 2020 police statement from Dominque where he said that he “facilitated the rapes” and admitted that “between 30 and 50 people” have come to their house “to have sex with my wife,” per theBBC.

The previous day, the couple’s three children appeared in court and described their “devastation” at learning about what their father did, according toThe Guardian.

Per the outlet, Dominique asked the couple’s eldest son David Pelicot, 50, for forgiveness, but he replied, “Never.”

Gisèle Pelicot (C) sits beside her daughter Caroline Darian (L) and her son in court in September 2024.CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

According to the outlet and NBC News, the couple’s daughter Caroline Darian, 45, also said she believed her father had drugged and abused her.

In response, Dominique said that he had never abused his daughter or any of his grandchildren, perThe Guardian.

Gisèle didn’t find out about the assaults against her until 2020 when police told her that they’d found pictures and videos on Dominique’s computer,The Timespreviously reported. The findings came amid accusations that Dominique  — whom Gisèle filed for divorce from in 2021 — had filmed up three women’s skirts in a supermarket.

Last month, she told the court she had chosen to have an open trial so that “all women who [are] victims of rape can say to themselves ‘Madame Pelicot did it, we can do it.’ I don’t want them to feel ashamed anymore,” per French outletLe Monde.

According to NBC News, the trial will deliver its verdicts and sentences around Dec. 20.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.

source: people.com