“I was in a coma,” defends Gisèle Pelicot, who feels “humiliated” by suspicions of complicity against her.

Gisèle Pelicot, the main victim of the Mazan rape trial, on Wednesday September 18th castigated the suspicions of possible complicity in the sexual assaults she suffered, which she claims were levelled against her by lawyers for some of the accused. “Since I arrived in this courtroom, I feel humiliated. I am called an alcoholic, that I put myself in such a state of drunkenness that I am an accomplice of Mr. Pelicot”she said before the Vaucluse criminal court.

“In the state I was in, I absolutely could not answer anyone. I was in a coma, and the videos that we are going to broadcast will be able to attest to that. And the experts were shocked by these videos, and they are men.”she explained, believing that “It’s so humiliating and degrading to hear this”.

The examination of the facts alleged against Dominique Pelicot and his fifty co-defendants makes it necessary to broadcast videos, crucial evidence. Gisèle Pelicot is ready for it, but the process is very controlled. Two first photos must be broadcast at the hearing on Wednesday afternoon, at the request of defense lawyers. “What matters to me is that these videos, which are irrefutable proof of the rapes and [des] violence that I suffered, be broadcast only in this room”asked Gisèle Pelicot at the bar, adding that she “does not want the public to be informed of these images”On September 9, she had already asked that her children “do not attend” to this viewing.

“There is no such thing as ‘rape and rape'”

“Not for a second did I give my consent to Mr. Pelicot or to these men who are behind it.”recalled this 72-year-old woman, who was allegedly the victim of some 200 rapes, 92 of which were committed by fifty co-defendants who have been on trial since September 2 alongside her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot. “I feel like I’m the culprit, and that behind me are the fifty [des] victims » and that, “Because I was a naturist, I would be an exhibitionist? I’m the guilty one and they are the victims. Besides, they should sit in my place…”she said ironically.

“Is it a matter of time, rape? Three minutes, an hour? I’m shocked! If it was their mother or sister here, would they have the same defense?”accused Gisèle Pelicot in turn, in a determined tone. “They came to rape me, no matter how much time passed”, “It’s disgusting”. “At what point does a man decide for his wife? I remind you that I was under chemical influence”. THE ” fifty [accusés] behind did not ask the question [du consentement] ? What are these men, are they degenerates or what? They never asked themselves the question at one point!she thundered.

“There is no such thing as ‘rape and rape’. Rape is rape.”M said again^me Pelicot, referring to the comments of a defense lawyer, Guillaume De Palma, who had estimated that there was “rape and rape”appearing to minimize the real intention of some of the accused, many of whom claim to have thought they were participating in a sexual game by a libertine couple.

“I explained that there was rape in its media and legal meaning. If the remarks hurt you, could shock you, I am sorry. That was not my intention. My intention was to recall the rules of law.”replied M.^e From Palma.