September 5th 2024.
Gisele has been diligently attending every day of her ex-husband's trial. The Frenchwoman was allegedly raped by multiple strangers who were invited to their home by her husband - an act that she described as "saving her life". Today, at the trial of her ex-husband Dominique Pélicot and 51 other men, Gisèle Pélicot spoke publicly for the first time about her horrifying experiences over the course of almost a decade.
The former couple, who are both 71 years old, came face to face in a packed courtroom in the Vaucluse Criminal Court in Avignon. Gisèle, who has chosen to waive her right to anonymity, began by expressing her gratitude towards the lieutenant from the town of Carpentras who arrested her husband for secretly filming up women's skirts in a supermarket. She tearfully stated, "He saved my life and I probably wouldn't be here without him." She then went on to recount the moment when her husband confessed to his disturbing actions.
In a frail voice, Gisèle shared, "On December 19, 2020, my husband told me he had a problem with his phone and his code. I didn't really understand. I was at my daughter's house." She then went on to describe how her children have been by her side throughout the trial, supporting and comforting her.
Gisèle continued, "When I returned to our village of Mazan, Mr. Pélicot picked me up. But something was different about him - he looked pale and anxious. I was worried about his health as he prepared lunch. We were in the kitchen when he suddenly broke down in tears. I didn't understand. I thought it was a health problem that had resurfaced." It was then that her husband confessed to his despicable actions, admitting to secretly filming women under their skirts in a supermarket.
Gisèle, who has been married to Mr. Pélicot for 50 years, was shocked by his confession but chose to forgive him, as they had never faced any issues in their long marriage. She warned him that there will not be a next time, or she would leave. Her husband assured her that he would not repeat his actions, and she trusted him, as their relationship had always been based on trust.
However, as the trial and investigations progressed, it became clear that Mr. Pélicot had been involved in much more than just filming up women's skirts. In fact, the couple is now in the process of getting a divorce, and Mr. Pélicot remains in custody, facing charges of rape and other heinous crimes that could see him behind bars for up to 20 years.
During the trial, the court was presented with evidence of videos and images found on Mr. Pélicot's camera and laptop, showing multiple instances of his alleged rape of his wife between 2011 and 2020. Shockingly, the majority of these rapes were committed by strangers that Mr. Pélicot had found online.
Gisèle also shared the moment when her daughter Caroline Darian found out about her husband's actions of drugging her mother before organizing the rapes. She said, "When I told my daughter, she screamed like a wild beast. I will never forget this." Her sons, on the other hand, were in a state of shock and didn't react much when they were told about the allegations. Gisèle shared, "That evening, my children kept calling me, worried that I might disappear or worse."
Jérémie Bosse Platière, the officer who first brought Mr. Pélicot to justice, estimated that he had committed at least 200 acts of rape against his wife before strangers started arriving at their home in Mazan, 20 miles away from Avignon. These strangers were contacted by Mr. Pélicot, who was working for the EDF energy company at the time, through a libertine sex site. The court heard how Mr. Pélicot had set up a sex ring, advertising for "partners" on an online forum called "Without Her Knowing" on the coco.fr site. Participants would discuss committing acts on unsuspecting partners and then filming their depravity, storing the videos on a USB drive.
Out of the 83 men involved, 51 have been identified and arrested by the police. These men include civil servants, ambulance workers, soldiers, prison guards, nurses, a journalist, a municipal councilor, and truck drivers. Mr. Pélicot has been charged with not only raping his wife but also with raping and murdering a 23-year-old estate agent in Paris in 1991. He has also admitted to one attempted rape in 1999, after DNA testing proved his guilt.
The trial for the aggravated rape case in Avignon is ongoing and is expected to continue until December 21. Gisèle, along with her children, has been present throughout the trial, bravely facing her ex-husband and the other men who have committed unspeakable crimes against her. Despite the immense pain and trauma she has endured, Gisèle's strength and resilience shine through as she seeks justice and closure.
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