For years, she had been experiencing hair loss and weight loss. She began to forget entire days and would sometimes appear to be in a dreamlike state. Concerned friends and family feared she may have Alzheimer’s. However, in late 2020, after being called to a police station in southern France, she discovered a horrifying truth.
Her husband of five decades, Dominique Pelicot, had been secretly drugging her with sleeping pills to render her unconscious, after which he would sexually assault her. He even allowed other men into their home to rape her, all while filming the horrific acts. This abuse lasted nearly ten years.
Using evidence collected from the man’s devices, the police spent two years identifying and charging numerous other suspects involved in the crimes. The trial, which began on Monday in Avignon, involves 51 men, including Mr. Pelicot, and has shocked the nation, shedding light on the use of drugs to facilitate sexual abuse.
The accused men come from various backgrounds, ranging from truck drivers to journalists, and are between the ages of 26 and 74. Many of them are in relationships and have children. Most are charged with raping the victim once, while some are accused of multiple assaults.
The victim, now in her 70s, divorced her husband and changed her surname following his arrest. Mr. Pelicot, 71, has admitted guilt, while other defendants have denied the charges, some claiming they believed the assaults were consensual.
The victim, who had no memory of the attacks, expressed shock upon learning the extent of her husband’s betrayal. She and her husband had been together since they were 18, and she had previously viewed him as caring and considerate.
The trial has sparked discussions about sexual crimes in France, with lawmakers pushing for clearer definitions of consent and punishment for perpetrators. The case has also raised awareness about the dangers of drug-facilitated crimes and the need for vigilance against predators in society.
Mr. Pelicot, once seen as a friendly neighbor and devoted father, is now facing serious charges that could result in a lengthy prison sentence. The case has prompted his daughter to start a nonprofit organization to raise awareness about such crimes and seek justice for victims.
The investigation into Mr. Pelicot’s crimes has revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse and manipulation, as well as the need for improved training for medical professionals to recognize signs of abuse and violence against women.