Final phase of mass rape case that has horrified France

Dominique and Gisèle Pelicot, both born in 1952, married in 1973 and had three children. She worked as a manager at a large French company, while he – a trained electrician – founded several ultimately failed companies.

The Pelicots lived in the Paris region until 2013, when they retired to the picturesque southern village of Mazan. They had a large house with a pool and often entertained their extended family during the summer holidays.

By all accounts they were a happy, close couple. “We shared holidays, anniversaries, Christmases… That was all happiness for me,” Ms. Pelicot has said.

Between 2011 and 2020, Ms. Pelicot began experiencing disturbing symptoms that she believed were signs of Alzheimer’s disease or a brain tumor, and underwent extensive medical examinations. The blackouts and memory loss were actually side effects of the medications her husband gave her without her knowledge.

Mrs. Pelicot divorced her husband shortly after his crimes came to light. She is using her married name only for the purposes of the lawsuit.

Dominique Pelicot has been in prison since November 2020. He will be sentenced next month, along with the other 50 suspects.