The trial of Dominique Pelicot in Avignon, France has exposed the disturbing details of a decade-long scheme where Pelicot drugged his wife, Gisèle, and invited 50 men to rape her while she was unconscious.
Courtroom footage showed graphic videos of the assaults, filmed by Pelicot and stored on a hard drive labelled “abuse.”
While Gisèle waived her right to anonymity, allowing the full extent of her suffering to be revealed, the trial has become a national spectacle, highlighting complex issues around consent. Many of the men accused have admitted to sexual acts but claim they were deceived into believing Gisèle was a consenting participant in a sexual game orchestrated by her husband.
While some of the accused have apologised and acknowledged their wrongdoing, others, including Vincent C., maintain they didn’t understand the gravity of their actions at the time.
Defence lawyers argue that Pelicot manipulated both his wife and the men involved, blurring the lines of intent and complicity. The case has ignited broader conversations about French laws on consent and the extent to which ignorance of non-consent can be considered a defense. The trial is expected to last for weeks, with the verdict anticipated just before Christmas.
