Pelicot recalls moment police told her of rapes

Gisèle Pelicot, who became a global symbol of courage during the trial of her ex-husband and the dozens of men who raped her while she was unconscious, has described her shock when police first showed her images of the crimes, likening herself to a “rag doll”.

- Angelique Chrisafis

In extracts from her forthcoming memoir, A Hymn to Life, Pelicot, 73, describes her shock when police told her of the actions of her ex-husband, Dominique, whom she considered “a great guy” after 50 years together.

She tells of her world falling apart on 2 November 2020 when she was first told her then husband had been drugging and raping her and inviting strangers to rape her, in extracts in Le Monde from the French-language version of the book, which will be published simultaneously across the world in 22 languages next week. Dominique Pelicot had been summoned by police for questioning after a supermarket security guard caught him secretly filming up women’s skirts.

Giséle Pelicot had accompanied him to the police station and was completely unprepared for the bombshell delivered by the officer, Laurent Perret. He said: “I am going to show you photos and videos that are not going to please you. That’s you in this photo.”