Gisèle Pelicot, French victim of multiple rapes, hopes trial will help other women

(Reuters) – Gisèle Pelicot, the 72-year-old multiple rape victim whose ordeal has shocked the world, told a trial in southern France on Wednesday that she was determined that going public with her case would help other women and change society.

Dominique Pelicot, her husband, admitted to inviting dozens of strangers to her home over nearly 10 years to rape her after drugging her. Fifty other men are also on trial, accused of raping her.

Gisèle Pelicot, her voice often shaking with emotion, told the court she was devastated by what happened to her. She said it was “incredibly violent” to her that many of the defendants in the trial, which began on September 2, said they thought she had accepted the rapes or was pretending to sleep.

“I have decided not to be ashamed, I have not done anything wrong,” said Gisèle Pelicot, who has become a symbol of the fight against sexual violence before the Avignon court.

She said she had insisted that the trial be held publicly and not behind closed doors, as is usually done to protect rape victims, in the hope that it will help other rape victims.

“They (the rapists) are the ones who should be ashamed,” she said, adding that showing videos of some of her rapes filmed by her husband during the trial was “very difficult but necessary.”

“I am not expressing hatred, but I am determined that things will change in this society,” said Gisèle Pelicot.

Protests have been organized across France to show support for Gisèle Pelicot and many women expressed admiration for her bravery.

“It’s not bravery. “It is determination to change things,” he said. “This is not just my fight, but that of all rape victims.”

Most of the defendants told the court that they had been manipulated by Dominique Pelicot and refused to be blamed. Only a few admitted to having raped Gisèle Pelicot.

Some apologized.

“I hear those apologies, but they are inaudible,” he told the court. “By apologizing, they are trying to make excuses.”

Gisèle Pelicot stated in court that her husband’s betrayal of her trust was immeasurable: “I am a totally destroyed woman.”

She had thought he was the perfect husband, she told the court, before adding: “My life has collapsed into nothing.”