A French woman, known as Gisele P., who was allegedly drugged by her husband for a decade and then subjected to rape by numerous men, bravely attended the first day of his trial with determination to face her attackers. The 72-year-old victim waived her anonymity to be present in open court alongside her three children, watching her husband, Dominique P., as he faces trial in Avignon, southern France.
Dominique allegedly orchestrated a rape ring scheme where he invited men through an online forum to sexually assault his wife from 2011 to 2020, with police identifying 51 of the 72 men involved in the alleged ring, believed to have committed 92 rapes in total. The men are being tried alongside the victim’s husband, who was employed by a power utility company.
Despite having the option for a closed-door trial, Gisele opted for public hearings to ensure complete publicity until the end, as requested by her attorney Stephane Babonneau. Antoine Camus, another attorney representing Gisele, stated that facing her attackers and her husband, whom she lived with for 50 years without knowing his true nature until later in life, is a testament to her determination.
Although the trial will be an unimaginable ordeal for Gisele, she remains resolute in confronting the traumatic experiences she endured over the past decade, discovering the abuse only in 2020.
The case, which has shocked the nation, came to light when Dominique was caught filming up women’s skirts in a shopping center in September 2020. Subsequent investigations revealed thousands of photos and videos of Gisele during unconscious states, showcasing the horrific acts she endured at their home in Mazan, Provence.
Dominique admitted to administering powerful tranquilizers to his wife before the assaults and followed strict protocols to prevent her from waking up during the attacks. The alleged rapists, ranging from 21 to 68 years old and including various professions, were instructed by Dominique to use degrading language on Gisele, with the husband filming and participating in the assaults.
As the trial progresses, Dominique’s lawyer, Beatrice Zavarro, expressed his client’s remorse for his actions and readiness to face the consequences. The trial, set to continue until December, also includes charges of a 1991 rape and murder, which Dominique denies, and a 1999 attempted rape, to which he has admitted guilt.
