A French woman, whose husband admitted to drugging her so she could be raped by others, has testified in the public trial of 51 of her alleged abusers.
Gisele Pelicot, 72, recounted the shocking moment in 2020 when police showed her images revealing a decade of sexual abuse orchestrated and filmed by her husband.
The horrific revelation unfolded while Pelicot and her husband of 50 years were living in their family home in Mazan, Provence.
Police had arrested Dominique Pelicot after he was caught taking photos up women’s skirts in a supermarket, leading to the discovery of thousands of photographs and videos depicting the abuse.
Pelicot, who agreed to have her full name published, was summoned to the police station and shown the photos. Initially unable to recognize herself, she realized the horrific truth upon seeing the third image.
She told the court that the police had “saved her life” by investigating her husband’s computer. On the third day of the trial, her husband admitted to the accusations against him.
Investigators identified over 200 instances of rape, including those committed by the plaintiff’s husband and over 90 by strangers recruited through an adult website.
Pelicot has insisted on a public trial to ensure the full facts of the case emerge. Her lawyers warned of the emotional challenges she would face during her testimony.
Eighteen of the 51 accused, including the plaintiff’s husband, are in custody, while 32 others are attending the trial as free men.
The trial is expected to last four months until December 20.
