Dominique Pélicot, 71, testified in court regarding allegations of drugging his wife to facilitate her rape over a decade. Acknowledging his guilt, he described himself as a rapist and sought forgiveness from his family. During the hearing, he reflected on past suicide attempts and denied accusations of assaulting his daughter, Caroline, leading to her emotional outburst. The trial has highlighted Pélicot’s troubling history of sexual offenses and his complex relationship with his family amidst serious charges.
The long-anticipated interrogation has finally commenced. After a week of delays due to health issues and hospitalization, Dominique Pélicot took the stand on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. The Vaucluse departmental criminal court has deemed the 71-year-old fit to testify regarding the Mazan rape case. As the hearing opened at 9 AM, Pélicot was questioned about the severe charges he faces and his personal circumstances. He promptly admitted to having ‘fully acknowledged the facts’, labeling himself as‘a rapist’. Pélicot stands accused of drugging his wife, Gisèle, over a decade and facilitating her violation by strangers while she was incapacitated.
‘Today, I assert that I am a rapist, just like those in this room’, Pélicot declared while addressing his fifty fellow defendants, as reported by court journalists. Acknowledging his ‘guilt for what [he had] done’, he implored his wife, children, grandchildren, and another victim, Madame M., to ‘please accept [his] apologies’, despite recognizing that his actions were ‘unforgivable’.
Dominique Pélicot Shares His Attempts at Suicide
During the hearing, an assessor inquired if Pélicot had ever contemplated suicide. He confirmed his attempts, revealing two occasions. The first occurred in the 1980s when his marital relationship was on the brink of collapse. ‘My world fell apart. On that day, I drove at 200 km/h, aiming for a row of plane trees… I didn’t have the courage to follow through with it; perhaps I should have,’ he admitted. The second instance happened while he was incarcerated in Baumettes prison in Marseille after his 2020 arrest. He shared that he felt endangered by other inmates, saying, ‘They wanted to harm me. My lawyer, Maître Zavarro, intervened, telling me: ‘You’re going to help them understand what took place.’
Pélicot Acknowledges His Need for Accountability
When asked about his feelings for his wife, Pélicot stated, ‘I was deeply in love with her’. He continued, ‘I loved her sincerely for 40 years and poorly for the last decade. I destroyed everything and lost everything; it is only right that I must face the consequences.’ Tears streamed down his face as he addressed Gisèle Pélicot. The court revisited his first arrest in 2010 for secretly filming under the skirts of women. Although he received only a fine, law enforcement advised him to seek treatment. He confessed to a lingering ‘perversion’ but insisted he had ‘never harmed’ his children or grandchildren. Notably, compromising images of his daughter asleep had been discovered on his computer.
‘I am accused of numerous offenses. We are not born perverts; we become them.’ Pélicot commented, referencing his childhood trauma. He reflected on his arrest: ‘When arrested, it felt like a form of suicide. I had no way out, and I was keenly aware that uncovering the breadcrumbs from cell phones could reveal everything. I lacked the courage to confess to Gisèle; I was trapped.’ Since his incarceration in 2020, he claims to have become aware of the harm he has inflicted due to ‘years spent with psychiatrists and psychologists.’ He stated, ‘I most certainly have issues, but one is not born that way; it is a transformation.’
Caroline Darian Leaves in Anger Over His Denial
As the hearing progressed, Dominique Pélicot was confronted about explicit photos of his daughter discovered among thousands of pornographic images on his device. Since the revelation, Caroline Darian is convinced she may have been drugged and potentially assaulted by her father or possibly unknown individuals. However, there is no physical evidence, and only Pélicot’s confession could validate these suspicions. When questioned by Me Antoine Camus, the lawyer representing Gisèle Pélicot and Caroline, Pélicot categorically denied the allegations. I understand why he might have doubts, but nothing happened. I’ve never harmed my children, he insisted, referencing an alleged incestuous relationship involving his own father.
His adamant