Gisèle Pélicot, a 72-year-old woman, is facing her husband Dominique Pélicot, 71, and 50 other men at trial in France this week. The men are accused of raping her after being drugged by her husband. Gisèle decided to reveal her identity at the trial after investigators informed her of the alleged abuse planned by Dominique. She described the discovery as shattering her world, built over 50 years. In court, she mentioned finding the courage to watch some of the footage of the abuse uncovered by the police earlier this year.
Investigators uncovered an illicit operation orchestrated by Dominique, where he recruited men online to rape his wife after drugging her. The crimes are said to have occurred over almost a decade, with the first assaults allegedly dating back to 2011. The police found evidence of the rapes after seizing Dominique’s phone and computer, discovering thousands of photographs and videos of men raping Gisèle while she was unconscious.
The trial, which is expected to last into December, involves each defendant appearing before a panel of judges in small groups. Gisèle testified about her idyllic life with Dominique before the abuse, stating that they were happy and had a supportive relationship for 50 years of marriage. Additionally, she mentioned experiencing health issues as a result of the abuse, including contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
Gisèle left her husband after learning of the allegations against him and has received support from her adult children during the trial. She opted for a public trial to ensure that the excuses given by the men accused of assaulting her are heard by everyone. Ultimately, a verdict in the case is expected on December 20th.
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