This article contains details that some readers may find disturbing.
Dominique Pélicot, the 71-year-old man accused of drugging his wife, raping her and recruiting dozens of men to sexually abuse her over more than a decade, has admitted the charges against him.
On Tuesday, in his first testimony since the trial began on September 2 in France, Pélicot said: “I am a rapist like the others in this room,” referring to the 50 co-defendants who are accused of raping his now ex-wife Gisèle.
“Everyone knew it, they can’t say otherwise”he said.
Regarding his ex-wife, he said: “She didn’t deserve this.”
“I was very happy with her,” he added.
Gisèle, who was given the opportunity to respond shortly afterwards, said: “It is difficult for me to hear this. For 50 years I lived with a man who I never imagined could be capable of this. I trusted him completely.”
Although cameras are not allowed in the courtroom, the trial is open to the public at the request of Gisèle Pélicot, who waived her right to anonymity at the start of the proceedings.
His legal team said this would bring “embarrassment” to the defendants.
“I loved her well for 40 years and badly for 10”
Dominique Pélicot, who is a father and grandfather, began his testimony by telling the court about traumatic experiences from his childhood and said he was abused by a nurse when he was nine years old.
Asked about his marriage to Gisèle, Pélicot said he thought about committing suicide when he discovered she was having an affair. He said he wanted to crash his car into a row of trees, but lacked the courage.
“Maybe I should have,” he added.
During his testimony, Pélicot repeatedly insisted that he never “hated” his wife and that, in fact, he was “crazy about (her)… I loved her immensely and I still love her.”
“I loved her well for 40 years and badly for 10,” he added, apparently referring to the decade during which he drugged and abused her.
He was also asked about the thousands of videos which he took from men abusing his unconscious wife.
Investigators found these videos and they were instrumental in tracking down the 50 men who are now accused of rape.
Pélicot acknowledged that he had filmed the men partly for “pleasure,” but also “as a sure thing, since today, it is thanks to (the videos) that we have been able to find the people who participated in this.”
Dominique Pélicot was later questioned by Stéphane Babonneauone of Gisèle’s lawyers, who asked him why he had not been able to stop abusing her, even when she began to present medical problems which were actually side effects of the medications he was giving her.
“I tried to stop, but my addiction was stronger“The need was growing,” he said.
“I was trying to reassure her, but I betrayed her trust. I should have stopped earlier, in fact, I should never have started.”
Pélicot is also accused of drugging and abusing his daughter, Carolineafter half-naked photos of her were found on his laptop.
Pélicot had previously denied the accusation and on Tuesday also declared that he had never touched his grandchildren.
“I can look my family in the eyes and tell them nothing more happened,” he said.
Pélicot’s lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, told French television that she did not know what people would think of her client, but that he was “sharing his truth.”
He added that Pélicot was “very depressed” and that although he did not know what his wife would think about his apology, “the confession is already underway and he will continue.”
“We will reach the end of this process and we will know everything about Dominique Pélicot,” Zavarro said.
Pélicot, who was diagnosed with a kidney infection and kidney stones, was absent from court for almost a week due to illness.
He is expected to testify throughout Tuesday, September 17, although he will be allowed frequent breaks.
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