“I thought I had an exceptional husband, but rapists can be among your family and friends”

Gisèle Pelicot, The victim of dozens of rapes organized by her husband when she was under the influence of sleeping pills, this Wednesday reminded the women who have supported her accused relatives that she also had “an exceptional and perfect man” at home, in reference to her now ex-husband Dominique Pelicot.

“These mothers, sisters, women… have said that their brothers and husbands were exceptional. I also had an exceptional man in my house and in my life, but The profile of the rapist can be in the family and friends“, he stated this Wednesday before the judge when he returned to intervene as a witness at the Avignon Court.

In fact, he said that Dominique Pelicot land took his favorite ice cream to bedmixed with anxiolytics, and she thought: “This man is a sweetheart. He’s perfect. How lucky I am”. In fact, I hoped to “end my days with him” after almost 40 years of marriage.

Gisèle has also revealed that although he did not usually cook, when he did, he prepared two dishes, one for him and one for her. Evidently Gisèle’s plate was full of sleeping pills that minutes later left her completely asleep.

Pelicot, converted into a true feminist symbol In France, she has reported that every day she goes to court for all rape victims and for those women and men who, day after day, show their support with applause in court and with messages through social networks. “I do this so that shame of sexual assault change sides and move from the victims to the accused,” he said, repeating his own words, which have now become a motto.

“I’m destroyed”

“I have become aware that I don’t have to be ashamedI have nothing to blame myself for. “I have been raped 100 times.”she continued, revealing that she is “destroyed” at 72 years old and feels “questioned.”

“I am a completely destroyed woman and I don’t know how I’m going to get up. “I don’t know if my life will be enough to understand everything that has happened to me,” he said with the desire that “the whole truth be known.”

In response to questions from defense lawyers, Gisèle Pelicot indicated that she “understands” the requests for forgiveness of some accused, but for her they are “inaudible”. “They excuse themselves,” he responded.

He has also taken advantage of his new testimony to reiterate that there are no different degrees of violations: “There is rape and that’s it,” after some lawyers have tried to reduce the seriousness of their clients’ actions.

“For me they are rapists and they will continue to be,” said Gisèle Pelicot, who showed her anger at some of the testimonies of the accused and some of the questions from the defense lawyers, which have bordered on humiliation.

More than 50 rapists

In the trial taking place at the Court of Avignon, the judges will have to determine the responsibility of Dominique Pelicot for these violations and the files that he kept and that were confiscated in September 2020 when he was arrested for having recorded under the skirts of some women in a supermarket from the city of Carpentras.

In those files there were hundreds of photos and videos taken by Pelicot in which his wife appeared – they divorced in August – drugged and subjected to sexual abuse by dozens of men, among those who have been able to be identified, the 50 who sit on the bench.