A woman who was drugged by her husband so he could film her while she was raped by multiple men over a decade in France wanted a public trial. Gisèle Pélicot’s lawyer, Antoine Camus, said Gisèle wanted the case to be made public so it would not happen again. “For her, it is a way of showing that it is possible to recover from such an ordeal. And she wants to ensure that the shame is not hers but that of the accused,” Camus added, addressing Daily mail.
The victim even allowed himself to be identified and photographed along with his daughter, Caroline Darian, before the trial began.
During the trial, some of the 51 defendants (the other rapists could not be identified), including a 60-year-old gardener, said they were not aware of the terms of the sexual encounter and that they left the Pelico family home before taking any action. However, existing videos of the attacks prove otherwise. It is not yet clear whether the videos will be shown in court.
In addition to the psychological ailments she now experiences, Gisele also suffered from rape, weight loss, and gynecological problems that doctors at the time considered unexplainable, but which are now attributed to the frequent use of drugs that she unknowingly took.
It is the first known case in France of a husband allegedly drugging his wife so others could rape her, and the first to suggest a growing practice of using chemicals to render a victim unconscious before rape.
The case also highlights the existence of Internet chat rooms such as the one where Pelico recruited his wife’s alleged rapists and where he posted videos – a site now closed to voyeurs called “son insu,” which translates as “without him or her knowing.”
For most of their marriage, the Pelicos lived in Paris, where they ran a business. But after retiring, they moved to this quiet village, renting a quaint cottage on a quiet street. It was during this time that most of the abuse allegedly occurred, according to the report. Daily mail.
On the outside, Dominic Pelico was a respectable individual who spent his days playing bocce at a local club and riding his bike.
However, during the trial, the psychological experts who examined Dominic Pelico portrayed a “twisted personality” lacking empathy.
The trial is expected to last until Christmas.
Author: Morning mail
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.