In Avignon, the criminal court began questioning the first of Dominique Pelicot’s 50 co-defendants on Thursday, September 19. The septuagenarian is appearing for having recruited dozens of men online for nearly 10 years to rape his wife Gisèle, after drugging her. The first of these men of very different ages and profiles, Lionel, a 44-year-old salesman, admitted to the charges.
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With our special correspondent in Avignon, Laura Martel
As soon as he arrived at the bar, Lionel explained his position: “ I never intended to rape Ms Pelicot but having never had her consent, I can only state the facts “.
Married, father of three children, Lionel leads a happy life, before falling into a dark spiral: alcohol, depression, debt, infidelity… And then one day, among the proposals he receives on the controversial libertine site Coco, that of Dominique Pelicot, for a threesome.
“ A somewhat original proposalhe concedes. He says he’s in a relationship, but she’ll sleep. He talks to me about pills, that he gives her or that she takes herself, it’s not very clear. But at that moment, I don’t ask myself any more questions. I never thought that she might not be in the game, that was my first big mistake ” he explained.
” I had elements that made me think that this was not the case. He had sent me photos of Mrs. Pelicot naked in her garden. This made me think, wrongly, that it was a couple’s fantasy. ” he added.
Also readMazan case: Gisèle Pelicot, mistreated during a trying hearing, accuses the defense of “humiliating” her
“ I feel guilty about rape, about the acts […] but it was unintentional »
On site, ” Mrs. Pélicot is really sleeping, that’s clear. ” he points out, but ” I do what he tells me to do, it’s not an excuse, but I completely lose my footing “It was only 30 minutes later, when Dominique Pelicot made him leave the room because Gisèle was moving, that he reacted. I realize that there is a big problem since she must not wake up in front of me. “.
Lionel expressed his regrets for not having notified the police, in particular, ” by cowardice “, and multiplies the apologies to Gisèle Pélicot. She, remains unmoved. ” I feel guilty about rape, about the acts ” repeats the accused, ” but it was unintentional, even though I should have left long before “.
In the box, Dominique Pélicot comments acerbically: “ He repents, but perhaps it is a little late. »
Also readMazan case: Dominique Pelicot admits to raping his ex-wife, but denies assaulting his daughter