Gisele Pelicot, at the heart of a mass-rape trial that has shocked France and the world, confronted her husband Dominique in court on Wednesday, expressing her ongoing disbelief over why he had drugged and raped her for nearly a decade, along with dozens of other men he invited into their home.
"My life has collapsed," Gisele told the Avignon court as Dominique sat with his head bowed. "I always tried to lift you up, but you chose the darkest depths of humanity."
Gisele, now 72, expressed uncertainty about how she would rebuild her life after the horrific events. "I don’t know if I have enough time left to recover from this," she said.
Dominique Pelicot has admitted to regularly drugging his wife between 2011 and 2020, allowing himself and other men to sexually assault her without her knowledge. The case involves 49 other defendants, with one man accused of participating while missing the birth of his child.
Despite the deeply personal nature of the crimes, Gisele has insisted the trial be held in public. She explained in court, "I want other women who are rape victims to see that if I can do this, so can they. The shame is not ours—it belongs to the attackers."
In harrowing detail, Gisele described how Dominique drugged her, slipping substances into her food. "We would share a glass of wine, and I never suspected anything. He would bring me ice cream to bed, and I thought how lucky I was to have such a loving husband. But I would wake up feeling nothing, only later realizing what had been happening."
The trial, set to continue until December, has sparked nationwide protests against "rape culture" in France and raised questions about the country's laws on sexual consent. Gisele’s courage has inspired many, with hopes that her case could lead to legal reforms.
As Gisele arrived at court on Wednesday, she was met with applause and support from the public, recognizing her strength and determination in seeking justice.
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