The mass rapist, dubbed the Monster of Avignon, will take the stand tomorrow, after the trial judge ruled he is fit to take part in proceedings that have shocked France.
Retired Dominique Pelicot drugged his wife Gisele and invited dozens of men he met on the internet to abuse her while she was unconscious at their home in the Provence region of the south of France over ten years.
Pelicot, 71, was supposed to give evidence last week, as his ex-wife and their three grown-up children looked on defiantly.
But the France’s worst husband has forced the case to be adjourned several times, including this morning, stating he was too ill to attend court.
His lawyer, Madame Beatrice Zavarro told French media her client was suffering from a kidney infection, had a bladder stone and had problems with his prostate. She added that he was not getting proper treatment in prison.
However, following an extensive medical examination today, trial judge Roger Arata has ruled that Pelicot can no longer avoid the court-room show-down with his ex-wife and must appear tomorrow.
Retired Dominique Pelicot (pictured) drugged his wife Gisele and invited dozens of men he met on the internet to abuse her while she was unconscious
Gisele Pelicot (C), is escorted by her lawyers Stephane Babonneau (R) and Antoine Camus (L) as she exits the criminal court in Avignon, southern France
Dominique Pelicot, who has allegedly drugged and raped his wife Gisele Pelicot, appears at the courthouse in Avignon, France, September 11, 2024, in this courtroom sketch
Detectives have listed a total of 92 rapes committed by 72 men, 51 of whom have been identified.
Pélicot’s sex ring involved advertising for ‘sex partners’ on an online forum called ‘Without Her Knowing’ on the coco.fr site, which has since been shut down.
Of the 83 men involved, 51 aged between 26 and 73 were identified and arrested by the police.
Pélicot is said to have sedated his wife by putting Temesta – a powerful anxiolytic – into her evening dinner.
Alleged rapists involved in the case include civil servants, ambulance workers, soldiers, prison guards, nurses, a journalist, a municipal councillor, and truck drivers.
Fourteen of the other defendants have admitted rape, while the rest deny any wrongdoing.
Last week, Pélicot’s legal team insisted he was not well enough to give evidence because of abdominal pain and a suspected bladder infection.
Dominique and Gisele Pelicot on their first wedding day in April 1973, when they were 21 years old. The couple went on to have three children and later divorced
Dominique Pelicot pictured on holiday to the Isle of Ré in 2018 with his wife Gisele – two years before he was arrested for drugging her and arranging for men to rape her
Caroline Pelicot, 72 arrives at court in Avignon France. Week 2 day 8 of the trial.
He briefly appeared in court on Wednesday morning, but defence barrister Beatrice Zavarro confirmed on Thursday that he was ‘still ill’ and would not be showing up.
Pélicot has been vomiting and fainting in his prison cell, where he has been on remand since 2020, in between visits to hospital for treatment and tests.
Ms Zavarro’s submissions were accepted by Roger Arata, the trial judge, who said: ‘He requires medical treatment and will be unable to attend court for the rest of this week at least.’
Mr Pélicot’s own daughter, Caroline Darian, 46, described him in court as ‘one of the greatest sexual predators’ of recent years.
She said he secretly photographed her in the nude, along with her two sister-in-laws.
Gisele Pelicot (C), and her daughter Caroline Darian (L) speak with the media after leaving the criminal court in Avignon
Gisele Pelicot speaks to the press alongside her lawyer on September 5, outside the courtroom in Avignon, France
In a separate case, Pélicot has been charged with raping and murdering a 23-year-old estate agent in Paris in 1991.
He has admitted one attempted rape in 1999, after DNA testing proved a case against him.
The Avignon aggravated rape case, due to last until December 21, has sparked outrage throughout France.
Thousands of women and men attended rallies in towns and cities across the country in support of Gisele Pelicot.
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