French woman says uncovering of mass rape trauma 'saved her life'

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:00Two defendants in the rape case that has sent chills through France.

00:04There are 51 men on trial, including Dominique Pellicot, who is accused of drugging his wife

00:10and inviting strangers over to rape her in their home.

00:14They shield their faces as they go through security.

00:18By contrast, Giselle Pellicot held her head high on arrival at the criminal court in Avignon.

00:25The 71-year-old woman chose to be named and to hold a public trial in solidarity

00:30with all women who had faced similar crimes, and to prevent it from ever happening again.

00:37I think I've said everything I wanted to say. It's not easy, of course. It's an exercise in style.

00:42It's not easy. And then there's the pressure of all these people behind me,

00:46and I can feel that they're trying to trap me with their questions.

00:49So I try to answer as best as I can. And then, of course, we'll have to fight to the end,

00:53because this trial is going to last four months.

00:57In her almost 90-minute testimony, she spoke of being shown the barbaric

01:01images that show her lying motionless on the bed and being raped.

01:05Saying the police saved her life when they investigated her husband's computer in 2020

01:10after he was caught filming up women's skirts in a supermarket.

01:14Police say they found thousands of photos and videos that appeared to document

01:18almost 100 counts of rape over the course of nearly a decade.

01:23In the stand, Giselle said she thought they were a close couple,

01:26married for 50 years with three children, and then her husband's crimes tore her world apart.

01:34The words that best describe and will best define this testimony are,

01:39with great dignity. Giselle P. told her story, the way she experienced things,

01:44her personal account, the way she lived.

01:48Earlier in court this week, Dominique Pellicot answered

01:51yes when he was asked if he was guilty of the accusations.

Category

Transcript

Recommended