Pelicot trial: Wife drugged by husband and raped by dozens of strangers says she’s speaking up for all victims

Courageous Gisele Pelicot stood up for rape victims on Wednesday as she declared in court: “We are not the ones who should be ashamed – it’s their shame.”

The 71-year-old, whose ex-husband is accused of drugging her and inviting dozens of men to rape her, took the stand on Wednesday.

Giving evidence at the trial in France, the mother of three said she had waived her right to anonymity so she could “speak for all victims”.

The retired secretary told the court in Avignon: “I want [survivors] to say, ‘Madame Pelicot did it, so we can do it’.

“I don’t want them to be ashamed any more. We are not the ones who should be ashamed – it’s their shame.”

The trial of her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men has made headlines around the world since it began two months ago.

Dubbed the “Monster of Avignon”, Pelicot is accused of drugging his wife over a ten-year period and then inviting as many as 72 men whom he met online to rape her while he filmed them.

Those accused of attacking her between 2010 and 2020 have been dubbed “Monsieur Tout le Monde” (Mr Joe Bloggs) as they come from all walks of life.

Aged between 24 and 74, they include a soldier, fireman, council worker, journalist, shop worker and lorry driver.

Many have denied rape, claiming they did not know she was unconscious or that she had “consented” to take part in a sex game by pretending to sleep.

Her former husband, 71, has pleaded guilty to drugging and raping her.

Dressed in a blue patterned dress, Ms Pelicot took the stand just after 11.30am.

Her ex-husband shifted uncomfortably in his seat as she spoke, looking only occasionally at his wife of nearly 50 years.

Speaking to the hushed courtroom for almost two hours, Ms Pelicot said: “I am so grateful that you have given me the opportunity to speak because, for almost eight weeks, I have been hurt and challenged. But I know I have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Explaining her request to have an open trial and show the graphic footage of the alleged attacks, she continued: “I have been raped 100 times and it was difficult to make the decision to release those videos. But it also allowed us to acknowledge the truth.”

Ms Pelicot, who suffered years of unexplained illness as a result of being drugged and attacked, addressed her former husband as she said: “So many times I said to myself how lucky I was to have you. When we went to the hospital because I was unwell; (when) he took me to the gynaecologist. I trusted him entirely.

“I am trying to understand how this man, who was perfect to me, could have done this. How could you have betrayed me? How could you have brought strangers into our bedroom?”

Her voice breaking, she added: “We had 50 years of happy life together. I was a happy woman, fulfilled. I had three children and seven grandchildren. He was a caring father, a good listener, a kind man who I trusted completely. We shared laughter and sorrow.

“How could you betray me to this extent? This betrayal is immeasurable. I thought I would end my days with this man.

“I don’t understand how it got to this. I always tried to lift you towards the light, but you chose the depths of the human soul. You made this choice.”

She described how she had watched various wives, mothers and sisters take the stand over recent weeks to say the accused were “exceptional men”.

She added: “I had the same at my home. But a rapist is not the man you meet in a car park late at night. He can also be one of your family, one of your friends.

“I’ve been told I’m brave. This isn’t being brave – this is having the will and determination to change society.”

Pelicot was arrested in 2020 after he was caught taking photos up women’s skirts in a supermarket near their home.

While investigating, police found a file labelled “abuses” on the retired electrician’s computer which contained 20,000 images and films of his wife being raped.

She filed for divorce a year later after officers showed her the footage.

The case, which is expected to conclude before Christmas, has sparked outrage across France with feminist marches across the country last weekend.

Supporters of Ms Pelicot gathered outside the court yesterday with one handing her a “good luck” card and another tacking up a poster which read: “Gisele, women thank you.”