"When Changing a Male-Dominated Macho Society"... Final Testimony of the Victim in a Notorious Sexual Assault Case

Rape Case of 72-Year-Old French Woman Giselle Pellico
Husband Drugged Her and Called Men to Rape
"Rape Awareness Must Change"... Final Verdict Next Month

Giselle Pellico (72), a French woman who was drugged and sexually assaulted by men recruited through internet chat by her ex-husband, and who has since taken a public stance, said in her final court statement, "It is time to change the male-dominated macho society." On the 19th (local time), the French daily Le Figaro reported, "The trial, which has been ongoing since last September, heard the final victim testimony at the Avignon court in southern France."

Giselle Pellico is leaving the courtroom after the hearing held at the Avignon Court in France on the 19th (local time). Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Giselle's ex-husband, Dominique Pellico (72), was charged with secretly drugging his wife's drink with sedatives from July 2011 to October 2020, causing her to lose consciousness, and then inviting anonymous men recruited through internet chat to their home to sexually assault her. The men recruited by Dominique numbered 72, including soldiers, public officials, journalists, delivery workers, and prison officers, as well as former police officers and firefighters, shocking French society. However, some perpetrators have died and some remain unidentified, so only 51 were actually brought to trial. Some of the defendants were released during the investigation, and only 18, including Dominique, are being tried in custody.

Dominique's crimes were uncovered when he was caught secretly filming under women's skirts with his phone at a local supermarket in September 2020. According to authorities, over 20,000 illegal recordings were found on his USB, including videos of his wife being raped. The victim, Giselle, had no memory of being sexually assaulted while drugged, and her children never suspected drugging but thought she might have dementia or a neurological disorder.

On a street in Gentilly, south of Paris, France, there is a mural of Pelico with the phrase "Let shame change" written. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

At the trial that day, Dominique and some defendants admitted to the crimes, but about 30 other defendants denied the charges. They claimed they had no intention to sexually assault Giselle and shifted all responsibility to Dominique.

Having witnessed the entire trial, Giselle said, "This is a trial of cowardice," and asked, "How could anyone see a motionless body and not report it to the police or leave the room?" She emphasized, "The perception of rape must change now," and declared, "Rape is rape." Giselle and Dominique's two sons also requested the court to severely punish their father. The sentencing trial is scheduled to be held before the 20th of next month.

Earlier, at the start of the trial, the defendants' lawyers requested the court to hold the trial privately to protect their clients' privacy. However, Giselle decided to reveal her face and make the case public, saying, "Shame belongs to the defendants, not the victim." Since then, the entire trial process has been public, and Giselle has become an "icon of courage" in French society. She speaks out about how the perpetrators are not some special demons but our ordinary neighbors, fathers, and husbands, and that not a single person reported this case to the police.