In a case that has shocked France, Dominique Pelicot, the 72-year-old man who admitted to orchestrating the rape of his heavily sedated wife, sought forgiveness from his family and acknowledged the courage of his now ex-wife Gisele Pelicot during his final statement on Monday. The trial, which began on September 2 in the southern city of Avignon, has garnered international attention for its disturbing details and Gisele Pelicot’s unyielding resolve to confront her aggressors.
Addressing the court ahead of the verdict expected later this week, Dominique Pelicot said, “I would like to start by hailing the courage of my ex-wife.” He expressed remorse for his actions, stating, “I regret what I did, making my family suffer… I ask them for forgiveness.” He appealed to his family to accept his apologies while admitting to feeling “inner shame” over his crimes.
The harrowing case revealed that Dominique Pelicot had drugged Gisele Pelicot for nearly a decade, enabling himself and strangers he recruited online to sexually assault her. The abuse, meticulously planned and executed, remained hidden until it came to light, shocking the nation.
Gisele Pelicot, who is also 72, has emerged as a symbol of resilience and courage. Refusing to be silenced or ashamed, she has become a feminist icon in France and beyond for confronting not only her ex-husband but also the 50 other men accused of participating in the assaults. Among the defendants is a man who, while not abusing Gisele Pelicot, raped his own wife with Dominique Pelicot’s assistance.
Throughout the trial, Dominique Pelicot, who sat in a glass defendants’ box, reiterated that he had told “the whole truth” since proceedings began. Due to his fragile health, he was allowed to remain seated on a special chair, a gesture he thanked the court for, noting it could have been misinterpreted as “nonchalance.” He added, “I have been called many things, but I rather intend to be forgotten.”
In his concluding remarks to the panel of five judges, Dominique Pelicot acknowledged the gravity of their responsibility, saying, “There you go, you have the rest of my life in your hands.” Prosecutors have requested the maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison for aggravated rape.
The verdict for Dominique Pelicot and the other accused is set to be delivered on Thursday, marking the end of a trial that has deeply unsettled France while sparking broader conversations about justice, accountability, and gender violence.
