In a groundbreaking rape trial in France, 51 men stand accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot, a former logistics manager who has gained recognition in the feminist movement for her insistence on a public trial. The proceedings have revealed deeply entrenched societal attitudes toward sexual violence, with many of the accused rejecting the notion that their actions constituted rape.
Patrice N, a 55-year-old electrician from Carpentras, took the stand, describing himself as a “jovial” person and a dedicated father. He denied the allegations, asserting that he never intended to harm anyone. “To my mind, it was a game,” he stated in court.
The trial centers around the harrowing experiences of Gisèle Pelicot, who, from 2011 to 2020, was unknowingly drugged by her then-husband, Dominique Pelicot, who crushed sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medications into her food. He allegedly invited men to assault her while incapacitated in their home in the idyllic village of Mazan, Provence.
During her testimony, Gisèle expressed feeling “destroyed” but motivated by “the determination to change society” and shine a light on “rape culture.” Despite video evidence showing her in an unconscious state, snoring loudly, Patrice N claimed he had not noticed anything unusual when he visited the Pelicot home in February 2020 after communicating with Dominique online.
When questioned by a judge about his inaction upon hearing Dominique state that he had drugged Gisèle and delivered her to men, Patrice N said, “I didn’t want to waste my time at the police station. Who would have believed me?” Gisèle, who was watching from the courtroom, shook her head in disbelief.
In a shocking revelation, Dominique Pelicot himself admitted to drugging and raping Gisèle previously in a motorway layby. Meanwhile, Patricia N and other accused men were supported by women in their lives, who asserted they could not believe the men were capable of such acts.
In a stark contrast, some of the accused did admit to the crimes. Abdelali D, 47, confessed to raping Gisèle while she was in a comatose state, stating he had his girlfriend drop him off at the Pelicots’ home. Jean-Luc L, 46, acknowledged raping her on two occasions and initially thought he had her husband’s consent, reflecting a disturbing misunderstanding of what constitutes consent.
Gisèle’s lawyer, Stéphane Babonneau, voiced a powerful message in court: “There is never an obligation to have sexual relations with your husband,” emphasizing that Gisèle is not to blame for her husband’s actions.
The trial is set to continue until December 20, as it unravels a disturbing narrative of betrayal, violation, and the urgent need for societal change regarding the understanding of consent and sexual violence.
