For the first time, the incredible abuse process surrounding the French Gisèle Pelicot was no longer bearable for the victim. During the interrogation of one of the rapists on Monday, the otherwise strong 72-year-old had to leave the courtroom for the first time.
The alleged accomplice, carpenter Vincenc C., lived just five minutes away from Pelicot and allegedly raped the woman twice. He now admitted to the judge in Avignon that he had had sexual intercourse with the victim, but showed little remorse.
He claimed he didn’t know it was rape and didn’t realize the woman was unconscious. The fact that she was motionless and snoring didn’t seem to bother him.
Thought of some kind of ‘sex game’
He was initially not interested in sex, but felt invited by the couple for a kind of ‘sex game’, the broadcaster BFM TV quoted him as saying. Three months after the first rape, C. is said to have contacted Dominique Pelicot again. He claimed his wife had enjoyed the abuse: “I pointed out to him that I had been here before and I thought it was strange. He said to me, ‘No, we watched the video and she liked it.'”
Had “little choice” when it came to sex dates
He complained in court on Monday that he had ‘little choice’ when it came to sex dates – and continued: ‘After all, the internet forum (in which the man advertised for his wife; mind you) is not a supermarket.’ When the video recordings of his crime were later played, he is said to have taken his eyes off the screen.
Not only did the attempt to downplay the abuse, but also to indirectly compare the woman to a supermarket product, ultimately becoming too much for the victim: “I can’t stand this man,” she explained and left the room, according to the BBC . .
Only chance caught the husband
Gisèle Pelicot has been appearing in court every day for over a month to hear what she has had to endure for years. At the invitation of her husband, a total of 51 men allegedly sexually abused her; the man had apparently drugged her for this purpose. The rapes only became known by chance in 2020.
Dominique Pelicot was caught by a supermarket security guard secretly filming women under their skirts with his mobile phone. Eventually, the rape videos were discovered. 51 perpetrators have already been identified and charged. You risk a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Pelicot: “Shame must change sides”
The court actually wanted to conduct the trial behind closed doors. But Pelicot decided to make her fate public: “Shame must change sides,” she emphasized – and also decided that the images of the crimes during the trial should be visible to all. The ruling is expected in mid-December.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
