'I am a rapist', admits husband Dominique Pelicot in French mass rape trial

Caution: This narrative includes upsetting information right from the beginning.

Dominique Pelicot, a 71-year-old man facing accusations of drugging his wife to make her drowsy and enlisting numerous men to assault her for more than a decade, has confessed to all the allegations in his initial testimony since the trial began on September 2.

In relation to the 50 co-defendants charged with the sexual assault of his former wife, Gisèle, Mr. Pelicot remarked, "I am just like the others here; I am a rapist."

"They all understand the truth and can't deny it," he stated. Out of the 50 defendants, just 15 have confessed to committing rape, while the majority claim they were only involved in sexual activities.

Regarding his former wife, Mr. Pelicot remarked, "She shouldn't have gone through this."

"I felt really pleased with her," he said to the court.

Gisèle, who had the opportunity to reply soon after, expressed, "Hearing this is really hard for me. For 50 years, I shared my life with a man I never thought could do something like this. I trusted him completely."

While cameras are prohibited in the courtroom, the trial is accessible to the public because Gisèle Pelicot chose to give up her right to remain anonymous at the start of the proceedings. Her legal team mentioned that making the trial public would place the "shame" back on the accused.

When Gisèle exited the courtroom during a break in the hearing on Tuesday, she was greeted with applause from the crowd. She smiled as she received a bouquet of flowers.

Since the trial started, Gisèle has emerged as a beacon of strength and bravery. Over the weekend, numerous individuals came together in cities throughout France to express their solidarity with her and other survivors of sexual assault. This trial has sparked a nationwide discussion about issues such as marital rape, consent, and the use of drugs to incapacitate victims.

Mr. Pelicot, a father and grandfather, started his testimony in court by recounting difficult experiences from his childhood. He revealed that when he was nine, he was a victim of abuse by a male nurse.

When discussing his marriage to Gisèle, Mr. Pelicot revealed that he thought about taking his own life after discovering that she was unfaithful.

During his testimony on Tuesday morning, Mr. Pelicot consistently told the court that he never "hated" his wife. He expressed that he was actually "crazy about [her]... I loved her deeply and still feel that way."

"I cherished her deeply for 40 years, but during the last 10, my actions were harmful," he remarked, seemingly alluding to the period when he subjected her to drugs and mistreatment.

Mr. Pelicot was subsequently interrogated by Stéphane Babonneau, one of Gisèle's attorneys. Babonneau inquired why he had not been able to find the will to cease his abusive behavior, even when Gisèle began experiencing health issues.

During earlier hearings of the trial, Gisèle expressed her concerns that she might be experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or even a brain tumor due to her hair falling out, losing weight, and experiencing significant memory lapses. However, these issues were actually side effects of the medications her husband had been administering to her.

"I attempted to quit, but my addiction was more powerful; the craving was intensifying," he remarked.

“I was attempting to comfort her, but I ended up breaking her trust. I ought to have halted my actions earlier; honestly, I shouldn't have begun them in the first place.”

Mr. Pelicot faces allegations of drugging and mistreating his daughter, Caroline, after revealing almost naked images of her were discovered on his computer. He has denied these claims in the past and reiterated on Tuesday that he has never harmed his grandchildren. "I can face my family and assure them that nothing improper happened," he remarked.

Mr. Pelicot mentioned that in 2010, he changed significantly after connecting with a male nurse online. This nurse proposed that he put his wife to sleep with a sedative, provided instructions on how to do it, and even shared pictures of women who had been drugged. "That's when it all came together for me," Mr. Pelicot recalled. "That's when everything began."

During a part of the hearing on Tuesday, Mr. Pelicot was questioned about the numerous videos he recorded of men assaulting his unconscious wife. These videos were discovered by investigators and played a crucial role in identifying the 50 men currently facing rape charges.

Mr. Pelicot acknowledged that he recorded the men partly for enjoyment, but also as a form of protection.

All morning, Mr. Pelicot seemed focused on challenging one of the key arguments made by several defendants. This argument rests on the idea that they were unaware they were assaulting Gisèle; in other words, they believed they were engaging in consensual sex with her.

Mr. Pelicot encountered the defendants in an online chat room named "Without Her Knowledge" on a website that has since been shut down and featured adult content.

"I didn't compel anyone; they sought me out," he stated on Tuesday. "They inquired if they could come over, and I agreed. I never restrained or pulled anyone."

Some individuals have claimed that Mr. Pelicot "misled" them into thinking they were involved in a sensual game, where Gisèle was merely feigning sleep due to her shyness. Additionally, many stated that they were unaware that they were being recorded.

However, Mr. Pelicot mentioned that the only person he ever "manipulated" was his wife. He also pointed out that the men must have been aware they were being recorded: "There was a tripod with a screen next to it, and anyone who entered the room could see it right away."

Mr. Pelicot stated that his goal was to demonstrate that his wife was "a victim, not a collaborator." He aimed to show that everything took place without her awareness. He acknowledged that many defendants have contested this idea.

Béatrice Zavarro, the lawyer for Mr. Pelicot, informed French television that she was uncertain about how people would perceive her client, but she emphasized that he was "expressing his truth."

She mentioned that Mr. Pelicot appeared to be in a state of despair, and while she was uncertain about how his wife would respond to his plea for forgiveness, she noted that the process of confession had begun and he intends to keep going.

She stated, "We will reach the conclusion of this trial, and we will uncover all the details about Dominique Pelicot."

Mr. Pelicot, who has been suffering from a kidney infection and kidney stones, missed almost a week of court proceedings due to his health issues. He is scheduled to share his testimony today, but he will be permitted to take regular breaks.