The trial of 71-year-old Dominique Pelicot, a Frenchman accused of drugging his wife for over a decade to allow dozens of men to sexually assault her, is reaching its conclusion in Avignon. Alongside Pelicot, 49 co-defendants are facing charges, with sentencing recommendations expected this week and a verdict by December 20.
The case, which involves approximately 200 documented assaults, has shaken France and fueled debates over male violence. Pelicot meticulously recorded each incident, keeping a hard drive folder labeled “abuse” that police later discovered, leading to the identification of 50 suspects in addition to Pelicot.
The victim, Pelicot’s former wife, Gisele, has become a prominent advocate against sexual abuse, insisting on a public trial to highlight the use of drugs in such cases. She maintains she never consented to any of the acts, and only realized in 2020, after her husband was detained for a separate offense, that she had been drugged and assaulted over the years.
Of the defendants, 14 have admitted to the charges, facing up to 20 years in prison, while others claim they believed they were participating in consensual activities. Gisele’s two sons, David and Florian, are expected to testify, supporting their mother through the harrowing process. Gisele’s daughter, who previously testified, has also alleged abuse by her father after inappropriate images of her were found on his computer.
Prosecutors are set to present their closing arguments and sentencing demands later this week, bringing an end to the grueling 10-week trial that has drawn national outrage and calls for justice.
