The ongoing trial in Vaucluse examines the case against Dominique Pélicot and 50 co-defendants accused of raping his wife, Gisèle Pélicot, through drugging. During the hearings, testimonies reveal Pélicot’s manipulation and use of chemical submission over nearly a decade. Ahmed T., one of the defendants, denies wrongdoing, claiming he believed he was participating in consensual encounters with a libertine couple. The case has sparked significant public attention on the issues of chemical submission and sexual violence.
On Friday, October 18, 2024, the Vaucluse criminal court continued its hearings, focusing on the testimonies of Dominique Pélicot and one of his co-defendants, Ahmed T. Throughout the seventh week of the trial, which began on September 2, the court has been evaluating the cases of 51 men, all implicated in the aggravated rape of Gisèle Pélicot. This distressing case has drawn significant attention to the issue of chemical submission.
For nearly a decade, Dominique Pélicot secretly administered drugs to his wife to facilitate her rape, enlisting men he connected with through a website called Coco.fr. The duration of the trial reflects the complex nature of the case, as it involves multiple defendants facing similar charges. During this week, Dominique Pélicot was re-examined, continuing to confront the accused while firmly maintaining his allegations.
Ahmed T.: The Final Defendant of the Week
The proceedings concluded with the testimony of Ahmed T., the last co-defendant for the week, as reported by journalist Juliette Campion on X (formerly Twitter). Similar to previous hearings, the focus returned to Dominique Pélicot’s systematic method of drugging his wife, utilizing a disturbing pattern where he slipped sedatives into her meals and drinks. Temesta was notably mentioned as the drug that enabled at least 50 men—potentially more than 80—to exploit her incapacitated state.
In contrast, Ahmed T., a 54-year-old plumber and father of three, vigorously refuted the rape allegations against him. When questioned by the attorney for Gisèle Pélicot, Stéphane Babonneau, about his feelings regarding the accusations, he unequivocally stated, “No.” Married to his high school sweetheart, Ahmed T. arrived at the Pélicot residence on the night of June 4-5, 2019, in search of what he described as a “unsatisfying and frustrating sexual experience.” During his testimony, he hinted that he might have been drugged: “I’m not saying he drugged me, but there were two glasses: orange juice and a glass of water. I drank the glass of water, I insist,” he remarked.
Mazan Trial: Unconventional Defense Strategy
While Ahmed T. admitted he was unaware of the full circumstances at the Pélicot home, he expressed his interpretation of events. Under the impression that he was engaging with a libertine couple, he noted, “I said to him, ‘What are you doing?’ He tells me: ‘Don’t worry, it’s for us, we watch the videos together’.” He described himself as someone manipulated by Dominique Pélicot, saying, “I’ve already watched porn on the phone, I’ve seen women pretending to be asleep. I thought I was in the company of a candaulist couple.” After realizing Gisèle Pélicot was asleep, he claimed he decided to “finish his act” before dressing again. When asked by the lawyer why he didn’t report the incident to authorities, he admitted, “I’m married; I was cowardly not to warn anyone. I mentioned it to a friend, saying ‘I had a weird experience in Mazan.’” Finally, he made a perplexing statement to defend himself against the accusation, saying, “I’m not a rapist, but if I were to rape someone, it wouldn’t be a 57-year-old woman, but rather someone beautiful…” He quickly added, “Sorry about that,” appearing embarrassed.