The individuals in question encompass a diverse range of ages, body types, and ethnic backgrounds, including young and old, burly and thin, and black and white. The group includes various professionals, such as firefighters, lorry drivers, soldiers, security guards, journalists, and a DJ.
A total of 50 men have been accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot, allegedly at the request of her husband, Dominique Pelicot, 72, who reportedly drugged her with prescription sleeping pills for a decade.
Their broad representation of a microcosm of French society has led to their designation as Monsieur-Tout-Le-Monde (Mr Everyman).
The sentencing is set to take place next week, concluding a trial that commenced in September. The group could face a combined total of over 600 years in prison if convicted.
Some individuals display a sense of defiance, yet the majority avert their gaze as they respond to the judges’ enquiries, occasionally glancing up to seek reassurance from their legal representatives.
All 50 individuals originate from towns and villages within a 50km (30-mile) radius of the Pelicots’ home village of Mazan.
Several defence attorneys have identified a significant strategy in the seemingly mundane aspects of their cases. “Ordinary individuals often achieve remarkable feats,” stated Antoine Minier, the attorney for three defendants.
“He stated to the BBC that nearly everyone might find themselves in a scenario—though perhaps not identical to this one—where they could be vulnerable to engaging in a serious crime.”
‘My body committed the act, but my mind was not complicit.’
Prosecutors have grounded their sentencing requests to the court in aggravating factors. The inquiry seeks to determine the frequency of the defendants’ visits to the Pelicot residence, the nature of their interactions with Gisèle Pelicot, and whether any form of sexual penetration occurred.
Joseph C, 69, a retired sports coach and devoted grandfather, could face a four-year prison sentence for sexual assault if convicted. The sentence requested by prosecutors is notably the most lenient among the options presented.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Romain V, 63, facing a potential sentence of 18 years in prison. He is facing serious allegations of raping Gisèle Pelicot on six distinct occasions, despite being aware of his HIV-positive status and not using protection during these incidents.
Prosecutors have presented unprecedented detail in this case, attributed to the extensive evidence available. Unlike typical rape trials, the alleged assaults were recorded over nearly ten years by Dominique Pelicot.
He has acknowledged all the charges brought against him and informed the court that all 50 of his co-defendants are also guilty.
The extensive video evidence leaves no room for the men to refute their presence at the Pelicots’ residence. The majority strongly dispute the allegations of aggravated rape, which carry severe penalties.
In France, the legal definition of rape encompasses any sexual act carried out through “violence, coercion, threat or surprise,” notably lacking any stipulation regarding the necessity of consent.
Consequently, they contend that they cannot be held guilty of rape, as they claim to have been unaware that Gisèle Pelicot was not in a position to provide her consent.
“A defence lawyer stated, ‘There can be no crime without the intention to commit it.'”
“My body raped her, but my brain didn’t,” asserted volunteer firefighter Christian L, highlighting the perplexing rationale presented by specific individuals involved in the case.
Among the 50 individuals implicated in the allegations surrounding Gisèle Pelicot, only one, Jean-Pierre M, 63, remains unaccused. He has been referred to as Dominique Pelicot’s “disciple.”
After five years of admitting to drugging his wife to facilitate abuse, he has revealed the disturbing details of his actions.
He attributes his criminal actions to his encounter with Dominique Pelicot, describing her as “reassuring, like a cousin.” Prosecutors are pursuing a sentence of 17 years in prison.
‘Deceived and misled by Pelicot.’
Ahmed T, a 54-year-old plumber who has been married to his childhood sweetheart for three decades, stated that if he had intended to commit such an act, he would not have selected a woman in her 60s.
Redouane A, a 40-year-old unemployed individual, contended that had he intended to assault Gisèle, he would not have permitted her husband to record videos during the incident.
Several individuals have reported feeling intimidated by Dominique Pelicot, with one lawyer describing him to the BBC as an “abominable character.”
With tears in his eyes, male nurse Redouan E recounted in court the fear that prevented him from leaving the bedroom. “Perhaps it isn’t evident from the videos, but I was terrified!” he told the judges.
Some individuals assert that they were served drinks laced with drugs, rendering them unable to recall the incident, a claim that Dominique Pelicot has firmly refuted.
Most participants, however, assert that they were deceived or misled by Dominique Pelicot, who persuaded them that they were engaging in a sexual game with a consenting couple.
“They found themselves in a scenario where they fell victim to a scam,” stated Christophe Bruschi, the attorney representing Joseph C, in an interview with the BBC. “They were deceived.”
Dominique Pelicot has consistently emphasised that he informed the men involved that his wife was unaware of the scheme.
He instructed them to ensure they did not disturb her slumber or leave any evidence of their presence. This included warming their hands before making contact with his wife and avoiding any scents of perfume or cigarettes.
“It was clear to everyone involved; there was no room for denial.”
Families are seeking clarity amidst uncertainty.
Since September, 50 men have consecutively appeared before the court in Avignon.
In cases of sexual assault, character investigations typically require several days to complete.
The trial has been streamlined due to the large number of defendants, with proceedings condensed to a few hours at most. Their lives have been scrutinised at an unprecedented pace, frequently transforming the courtroom proceedings into a series of narratives filled with abuse and trauma.
Simoné M, a 43-year-old construction worker, recounted a harrowing experience from his childhood, revealing that he was raped at the age of 11 by a family friend who had hired him to tend to cattle in New Caledonia, a French overseas territory.
Parent of four children, Jean-Luc L, 46, recounted in court the harrowing journey he and his family undertook as they fled Vietnam on a dinghy during his childhood. They spent several years in a Thailand refugee camp before resettling in France.
Fabien S, a 39-year-old individual with a history of multiple convictions, including drug dealing and the sexual assault of a minor, endured abuse and violence at the hands of his foster parents from an early age. He, along with others, revealed that it was during court-ordered psychiatrist appointments that he came to understand his vague and distressing childhood memories were, in fact, instances of rape.
Numerous wives, partners, and family members of the defendants were summoned to provide character statements. In their quest for clarity, they grappled with the perplexing reality of how the men in their lives became ensnared in such circumstances, as articulated by one woman.
“I was taken aback; it hardly resembles his usual demeanour.” “He was the joy of my life,” remarked the elderly father of Christian L.
A firefighter is currently under investigation for the possession of child abuse imagery alongside four other individuals and could face a sentence of up to 16 years in prison. “His father pondered, ‘Something must have happened; he must have become depressed.'”
“I will always support him.”
Corinne, the former spouse of 54-year-old Thierry Pa, a one-time builder, described him as consistently “kind” and “respectful” towards her and their children, suggesting that he may be open to reconciliation.
“Upon hearing the allegations against him, I exclaimed, ‘No way, that’s inconceivable… I can’t comprehend his presence here at all.'” She held the conviction that the tragic loss of their 18-year-old son was the catalyst for her ex-husband’s descent into profound depression, his subsequent turn to alcohol, and, ultimately, his decision to reach out to Dominique Pelicot.
“I will always be there for him, whatever happens,” stated the former partner of Guyana-born Joan K. At 27, he is the youngest among the defendants and a former soldier in the French army.
The individual has refuted allegations of raping Gisèle Pelicot on two separate occasions.
Despite being aware of her unconscious state, he admitted he had not recognised that she had not provided her consent.
A visibly emotional woman named Samira expressed her anguish, revealing that she has dedicated the past three and a half years to seeking answers regarding Jérôme V’s six visits to the Pelicots’ residence.
“We engaged in daily intimacy; I can’t comprehend why he felt the need to seek affection elsewhere,” she lamented. She remains in a relationship with Jérôme V, who was employed at a greengrocer’s when he was taken into custody.
He stands among the rare individuals who have confessed to raping Gisèle, expressing a disturbing enjoyment in the notion of having “free rein” over her, yet attributing his actions to what he describes as his “uncontrollable sexuality.”
Gisèle Pelicot has emerged as a notable figure in her field. I was assaulted with full awareness.
Numerous former and current partners of the defendants have participated in tests to determine whether they, too, had been drugged like Gisèle. A woman expressed lingering uncertainty, stating she would “always have a terrible doubt” that the “respectful, thoughtful, sweet man” she knew may have also victimised her without her awareness.
Since the trial commenced, significant attention has been focused on identifying a common element that connects all these individuals.
Gisèle’s legal team has stated that a common denominator, aside from the fact that all the men attended the Pelicots voluntarily, “remains nowhere to be found.”
However, one undeniable aspect unites all the defendants: each deliberately decided to refrain from contacting law enforcement.
At 73, firefighter Jacques C reflected on his thoughts, stating he had considered the matter but ultimately felt that “life just carried on.” Meanwhile, 55-year-old electrician Patrice N was reluctant, noting he “didn’t want to waste the whole day at the police station.”
During the initial phases of the trial, Gisèle Pelicot was questioned about the legitimacy of her belief that her husband had influenced the men.
She shook her head, stating, “They didn’t assault me with a gun to their heads.” They assaulted me with full awareness.
Seemingly casually, she enquired, “Why didn’t they go to the police?” An anonymous phone call might have been the difference between life and death for me.
“However, not a single one did,” she remarked after a brief silence. “None of them.”
