Dominique Pelicot, the 71-year-old man accused of drugging his wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and recruiting dozens of men to rape her over a period of more than a decade, admitted to all charges in his first testimony since the trial began on 2 September.
Facing 50 co-defendants accused of participating in the abuse, Pelicot made a startling admission as he said, “I am a rapist like the others in this room,” he said, affirming that “they all knew, they cannot say the contrary.”
Despite this, only 15 of the 50 men have admitted to the rapes, with many claiming they only took part in sexual acts.
Addressing his ex-wife, Pelicot expressed regret, saying, “She did not deserve this. I was very happy with her.” He also shared his continued affection, stating, “I loved her immensely and I still do.”
Gisèle, who courageously waived her right to anonymity at the trial’s start, responded emotionally: “It is difficult for me to listen to this. For 50 years, I lived with a man who I would’ve never imagined could be capable of this. I trusted him completely.”
The trial is open to the public at Gisèle’s request, her legal team believing that transparency would shift the “shame” back onto the accused.
Pelicot also revealed details of his troubled childhood, recounting an experience of abuse by a male nurse when he was nine. He referenced suicidal thoughts when he discovered his wife’s affair but maintained that he never harboured hatred for her.
When asked about the thousands of videos he filmed of men abusing his unconscious wife, Pelicot admitted they served both as a source of “pleasure” and “insurance” to identify those involved.
His testimony also touched on his own inability to stop the abuse, even as Gisèle began suffering from hair loss, weight loss, and memory gaps—symptoms she feared were caused by Alzheimer’s or a brain tumour. These, it was later discovered, were side-effects of the sedatives her husband had been administering. “I tried to stop, but my addiction was stronger,” Pelicot admitted. “I betrayed her trust.”
Beyond the abuse of his wife, Pelicot faces further accusations of drugging and abusing his daughter, Caroline, after semi-naked photos of her were found on his laptop—an accusation he denied. He also categorically stated he had never harmed his grandchildren.
Pelicot described how his perversion began in 2010 after meeting a male nurse online who suggested drugging his wife, explaining the process, and sharing photos of drugged women. “That’s when it all clicked,” Pelicot said. “Everything started then.”
His lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, told French media that Pelicot was “sharing his truth” but appeared “downtrodden.” She added that the trial, still ongoing, would eventually uncover “everything about Dominique Pelicot.”
Due to illness, including a kidney infection and kidney stones, Pelicot missed almost a week of the proceedings but has now resumed his testimony with frequent breaks allowed.
Follow us on:
