In a harrowing case that shocked the world, 72-year-old Frenchman Dominique Pelicot was sentenced on Thursday (December 19) to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping his wife, Gisele, over a decade. Pelicot also invited more than 70 other men to assault her, an act Gisele described as a betrayal of unimaginable proportions.
Dominique Pelicot, a retired power company worker, was married to Gisele for 50 years. They had three children and grandchildren together. Gisele, who was once the family’s primary breadwinner, described her husband as a “master manipulator”.
What is the case of Gisele Pelicot?
The abuse began in 2011, shortly after Dominique was fined for filming indecent images of women at a local market near Paris. Gisele was unaware of this incident at the time. Dominique began drugging his wife by lacing her food and drinks with substances that left her unconscious. She experienced extended blackouts and memory lapses, which she initially mistook for symptoms of an Alzheimer’s-like illness.
After retiring in 2013, the couple moved to Mazan, a small town in southern France. It was there that Dominique escalated his crimes, inviting strangers into their home to sexually assault Gisele while she was incapacitated.
The extent of Dominique’s actions came to light in 2020 when police seized his electronic devices during an investigation into another case of filming women without consent. Authorities discovered over 20,000 images and videos documenting the abuse, stored in folders ominously labeled “abuse”, “her rapists”, and “night alone”.
Trial and verdict
During the trial, Dominique confessed to his crimes and was convicted on multiple charges, including aggravated rape, attempted aggravated rape and taking indecent images of his daughter and daughters-in-law. The court sentenced him to 20 years in prison — the maximum penalty under French law.
Through the evidence found on Dominique’s devices, police identified 50 of the 72 men involved in the assaults. Most denied knowledge of Gisele being drugged, claiming they believed she had consented or that her husband had consented on her behalf. Despite these claims, all were convicted, with sentences ranging from five to 13 years.
Gisele chose to forgo anonymity during the trial, stating that she wanted “shame to swap sides”. Her bravery inspired widespread support from victims’ advocacy groups and the public.
Following the verdict, Gisele expressed her respect for the court’s decision and gratitude to her supporters. “I have confidence in our collective capacity to build a future where men and women can live together in harmony and mutual respect,” she said.
The case has sparked widespread discussions in France about sexual abuse, consent, and the justice system’s handling of such crimes. Advocacy groups have called for stricter laws and better support for victims.