The Facts
Dominique Pélicot, a 71-year-old Frenchman standing trial for drugging his wife Gisèle and allowing dozens of men to rape her from 2011-2020, was hospitalized Tuesday for what his lawyer described as abdominal pain.
Though Judge Roger Arata previously ruled that he was fit to return to court on Wednesday, his lawyer said he will not attend the trial this week because he has become "more serious."
The Spin
Narrative A
This extremely shocking case contains distressing details, but that is nothing compared to what Gisèle will endure during the trial. For 10 years she went unaware of her abuses, now she will have to live through the rapes committed in her house by her husband. We should all be saluting her courage in pushing for a public trial to raise awareness and ensure that what happened to her never happens to anyone again.
Narrative B
While Giséle's bravery in dealing with this legal process should certainly be applauded, it's questionable whether she should have the right to publicly reveal the identities of the accused in this trial. Some senior lawyers have suggested that such information should only be scrutinized once individuals have been convicted to avoid stigma and judgment for those who may be innocent. Anonymity is a key protection that should have been afforded in this case.
Narrative C
The case of Dominique Pélicot stretches back decades before he began abusing his wife, having been accused of raping a woman in 1991 and confessing to the rape of another in 1999. He was likely able to get away with this due to his ability to curate a positive public image while hiding his dark personal life, which allegedly included abusing members of his own family. Hopefully, this case will help the world identify and deter future psychosexual predators.
