
Mass Rape Case: Dominique Pelicot, 72, was convicted of planning a series of gruesome crimes, which included drugging his ex-wife, Gisele Pelicot, and arranging for her to be assaulted by dozens of strangers over more than a decade. The case, which has gained international attention, has seen the daughter of the convicted man, Caroline Darian, become one of the loudest voices advocating for her father to spend his life in jail.
In an interview with the BBC before the airing of the documentary “Pelicot Trial: The Daughter’s Story,” Darian said that she believes her father is beyond redemption. “He should die in prison,” she said. “He is a sexual pervert and a lifelong predator.
The disturbing revelations came to light during a three-month trial in Avignon, where Pelicot was convicted of drugging his ex-wife and orchestrating her assault by more than 50 men. The evidence included detailed records Pelicot kept of the assaults, exposing a horrifying pattern of exploitation and abuse.
The trial ended with nearly 50 co-defendants receiving sentences of three to 15 years. These convictions along with Pelicot’s 20 years sentence give the scale of atrocities.
Caroline Darian, 46, was one of the most important witnesses in the trial, where she testified against her father in court. “He’s always lying,” she said to the BBC. “I know he drugged me, likely for sexual abuse, but I don’t have the evidence to prove it.” She had found pictures of her unconscious and naked among her father’s files, which convinced her that she was also a victim of his predation.
Darian’s testimony has galvanized calls for harsher penalties for sexual predators. “I look straight at the criminal, the sexual predator he is,” she said, rejecting any notion of reconciliation. Darian described her father as “a stranger” whose crimes should ensure he never walks free again.
Gisele Pelicot, the main victim in the case, has not spoken publicly since the end of the trial. Survivors of sexual violence have praised Caroline Darian for her bravery in speaking out.
The Pelicot case has stirred widespread anger and set a dark precedent for dealing with gang rapes in courts. French lawyers have welcomed the decision of the court to pass harsh sentences on Pelicot and his accomplices as a significant stance against the crimes.
With Dominique Pelicot unlikely to be eligible for parole for a few years to come, Darian remains more determined than ever that he stays behind bars forever. “He is a dangerous man, and he should never be released,” she concluded.
This case shows the need to remain vigilant to sexual violence while fighting for their justice as survivors do.
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