"Gisèle Pelicot's ex-husband testifies rapist knew she was drugged"

Dominique Pelicot, who drugged his former spouse Gisèle Pelicot and arranged for numerous strangers to assault her over nearly ten years, testified in court that a man appealing his rape conviction was fully aware she was sedated and intentionally went to their home to attack her.

Husamettin Dogan, a 44-year-old married father, is attempting to have his conviction overturned for raping Gisèle Pelicot while she was unconscious in bed in June 2019. His appeal trial is taking place in Nîmes, southern France.

Pelicot stated he met Dogan, an unemployed construction worker, in an online group named “against her knowledge” and directly informed him that he drugged his then-wife and was seeking individuals to assault her.

“He knew from the beginning,” Pelicot said, explaining that he told Dogan over the phone: “I’m looking for someone to abuse my wife after I’ve put her to sleep without her consent.” Pelicot admitted to drugging his wife, assaulting her himself, and inviting others to do the same. “They all knew, they all came with the same goal,” he added. “I always made it clear she was sedated.”

Pelicot, a 73-year-old former electrician and real estate agent, is among the most notorious violent offenders in recent French history. He is currently serving a 20-year prison term after crushing sleep aids and anxiety medication into his then-wife’s food and organizing numerous assaults against her while she was unconscious in their home in Mazan, Provence, between 2011 and 2020.

For Tuesday’s proceedings, he was brought from his high-security prison in southern France, where he is held in isolation, to the Nîmes appeals court. He testified from a secure enclosure, guarded by four officers.

Gisèle Pelicot, 72, who became a prominent figure in feminist activism after waiving her anonymity during last year’s trial, sat composed in court alongside her youngest son, Florian.

Dogan was one of 51 individuals convicted in the case. He received a nine-year sentence for his involvement but is the only one challenging the verdict, insisting in court: “I never meant to harm that woman.”

Dominique Pelicot told the judges he provided Dogan with strict instructions, as Gisèle was drugged and should not be awakened. “I specifically told him over the phone: no tobacco, no strong scents, he had to wash his hands, no aggression, and that it would be recorded. These details made her condition unmistakable. He had to undress by the patio entrance so he could leave quickly if needed,” he stated.

He claimed Dogan, who had traveled nearly an hour from another village after informing his wife he was going out, arrived close to midnight. Pelicot said he initially had to guide him to the house on foot.

When asked if Dogan seemed troubled upon seeing Gisèle unconscious, Pelicot replied, “No, it didn’t bother him.” He confirmed the presence of a tripod-mounted camera in the room, leaving no doubt the assault was recorded.