In a heart-wrenching testimony at the Gisèle Pelicot rape trial, the couple’s three children confronted their father, Dominique Pelicot, begging him to reveal the full extent of his abusive actions. The 71-year-old retired estate agent stands accused of drugging his wife and inviting dozens of men to rape her over a nine-year period in their home in Mazan, Provence.
Family’s Lives “Destroyed” by Father’s Actions
David Pelicot, 50, the couple’s eldest son, told the court in Avignon that learning of his father’s crimes had “destroyed” their lives. Fighting back tears, he described the moment investigators revealed the horrifying video evidence they had uncovered following Dominique Pelicot’s arrest for a separate voyeurism offense.
“I felt the ground was pulled from under my feet,” David told the court. “I repeatedly vomited when they told me. Our lives were destroyed.”
The family had noticed Gisèle’s seeming “absences” during conversations, fearing she may be suffering from Alzheimer’s or a brain tumor. Little did they know, it was the result of the heavy sedatives Dominique had been crushing into her food and drink to render her unconscious for the rapes.
Daughter’s Suspicions of Abuse
Caroline Darian, 45, the couple’s daughter, told the court she felt certain she too had been drugged and abused by her father after suspicious photos were discovered on his computer. In the images, she appeared unconscious in underwear she did not recognize as her own.
“I know I was sedated. It’s not a supposition, it’s a reality,” Caroline stated emphatically. “The only difference between my mother and I is that there is tangible, inescapable evidence in her case.”
Dominique Pelicot vehemently denied abusing his daughter or grandchildren, though investigations are ongoing. His sons implored him to tell the truth about the extent of his crimes, if he had “any little bit of humanity left.”
Confronting Childhood Trauma
For Florian Pelicot, 38, the couple’s youngest, grappling with the revelation that his father was “one of the biggest criminals of the last 20 years” has been an ongoing battle. Looking back, he now recognizes suspicious incidents, like his mother’s sudden “grogginess” during a family dinner, as missed signs.
“Imagine if I had forgotten something and gone back to the house, what I would have found,” Florian lamented. “He had planned to do to her what we now know he did.”
Aurore, Florian’s ex-wife who was also photographed naked by Dominique without her knowledge, shared her own history of childhood abuse by her grandfather. She emphasized the importance of this trial in forcing society to confront how such atrocities can happen.
A Call to End the Silence
For the Pelicot children, this trial represents more than seeking justice for their mother. It’s about breaking the silence around sexual abuse and empowering other survivors to come forward. As David Pelicot told the court:
“Please don’t be afraid to speak out. The omertà is over. We have to speak out.”
With their powerful testimony, Gisèle Pelicot’s children have shed light on the devastating ripple effects of sexual violence within families. As the trial continues, they hope their father will reveal the full truth of his abusive actions, as they work to rebuild their lives from the ruins of his monstrous betrayal.
