A French Court has Reached a Significant Decision

[mike carey]

In 2020, Dominique Pelicot, a man from a village in rural Provence was arrested for filming up women's skirts.

In examining his phone and later his other devices the police uncovered 20,000 videos and photographs of men having sex with his comatose wife of 40 years, Gisèle (his then wife, it should be added).

She had no idea that it had happened and police had to work out whether it would even be possible to tell her, with the trauma it might induce.

They did tell her.

Police identified 50 men who had raped Gisèle at Dominique's invitation. He had drugged her for that purpose over the years since 2011.

The day he was arrested for filming those women in public, was the last time Gisèle saw Dominique until the trial.

This week the court reached its verdict. All 51 men were convicted of rape and other crimes, Dominique was sentence to 20 years and the other 50 received gaol terms of 3 to 15 years.

Gisèle had waived her right to anonymity and sat through the trial, a remarkable ordeal for her to endure, but in the process became something of a global cause célèbre.

By rejecting anonymity she has reduced, at least for now, the some of stigma many women face as the victims of such crimes.

It's to be hoped that Gisèle can retire into the quiet life she once led, in the knowledge that she was an inspiration to many women around the world. Or if she chooses, become an advocate for a cause that she unwittingly inspired.

[+ sync]

So tragic on so many different levels.

[TallMuscl37]

I was reading about this a couple times and just seen the latest today.

This is part of why I’ve always been reluctant to accept bookings that start with, “I want you to be a surprise for my wife/husband/neighbor etc.” right along with, “come in the room and find me face down, and rape me even if I say no, it’s a fantasy”. 

As the story details, the ones who were engaging also were convicted in the case. Which sucks but: this is why it’s always important to talk to both parties before engaging in a couples/3way event. Make sure both are coherent and consensual. 

[+ Jamie21]

49 minutes ago, TallMuscl37 said:

I was reading about this a couple times and just seen the latest today.

This is part of why I’ve always been reluctant to accept bookings that start with, “I want you to be a surprise for my wife/husband/neighbor etc.” right along with, “come in the room and find me face down, and rape me even if I say no, it’s a fantasy”. 

As the story details, the ones who were engaging also were convicted in the case. Which sucks but: this is why it’s always important to talk to both parties before engaging in a couples/3way event. Make sure both are coherent and consensual. 

Exactly! I agree. I get regular requests from guys to give a sensual massage to their wife as a surprise. The usual scenario they want is one where she’s told it’s a normal spa style massage but the husband wants me to ‘surprise’ her with a sensual massage, often with detailed instructions about what he wants me to do to her, while he watches. I have to tell him this can only happen if I speak to her to book it, it’s all agreed with her in writing as well as verbally and it’s not a surprise. There’s no way I’m doing surprise massages. What are these guys thinking?? It’s as if they think they own her. 
Utterly tragic for Mme. Pelicot and her children. She’s shown great dignity and resilience in how she has handled her ordeal. 

[mike carey]

[maninsoma]

I haven't read about this story until now.  The one thing that puzzles me (and perhaps this has been addressed by her) is how she was drugged so often without suspecting something was wrong long before the police found the videos. 

[TallMuscl37]

6 hours ago, Jamie21 said:

Exactly! I agree. I get regular requests from guys to give a sensual massage to their wife as a surprise. The usual scenario they want is one where she’s told it’s a normal spa style massage but the husband wants me to ‘surprise’ her with a sensual massage, often with detailed instructions about what he wants me to do to her, while he watches. I have to tell him this can only happen if I speak to her to book it, it’s all agreed with her in writing as well as verbally and it’s not a surprise. There’s no way I’m doing surprise massages. What are these guys thinking?? It’s as if they think they own her. 
Utterly tragic for Mme. Pelicot and her children. She’s shown great dignity and resilience in how she has handled her ordeal. 

And granted, I’ve taken bookings like that (with M4M couples) but generally try to chat to ensure they’re “all there”. There are some who just want to watch from a distance. But not trying to walk into some secret situation blindly.

 

25 minutes ago, maninsoma said:

I haven't read about this story until now.  The one thing that puzzles me (and perhaps this has been addressed by her) is how she was drugged so often without suspecting something was wrong long before the police found the videos. 

There’s another article on Reuters that details even further:

The youngest suspect was just 22 when he entered Gisele Pelicot's bedroom, while the oldest was in his early 70s. The defendants come from all walks of life - lorry drivers, soldiers, firefighters, security guards, farm workers, a supermarket worker, a journalist and the unemployed. Dominique Pelicot had worked as an electrician and estate agent.

https://apple.news/AuG6yKRRSSY6Jgam4b_D_xw

I can’t imagine only he was inviting these guys, I almost bet he had to have been pretending he was her. And based on their occupations, I’d have to wonder if any got paid for any of it. Just because there’s not a whole lot of people I would hope, just readily taking up offers to be with someone’s wife.

 

[maninsoma]

2 hours ago, TallMuscl37 said:

And granted, I’ve taken bookings like that (with M4M couples) but generally try to chat to ensure they’re “all there”. There are some who just want to watch from a distance. But not trying to walk into some secret situation blindly.

 

There’s another article on Reuters that details even further:

The youngest suspect was just 22 when he entered Gisele Pelicot's bedroom, while the oldest was in his early 70s. The defendants come from all walks of life - lorry drivers, soldiers, firefighters, security guards, farm workers, a supermarket worker, a journalist and the unemployed. Dominique Pelicot had worked as an electrician and estate agent.

https://apple.news/AuG6yKRRSSY6Jgam4b_D_xw

I can’t imagine only he was inviting these guys, I almost bet he had to have been pretending he was her. And based on their occupations, I’d have to wonder if any got paid for any of it. Just because there’s not a whole lot of people I would hope, just readily taking up offers to be with someone’s wife.

 

Thank you for linking that article.  Here's the paragraph that would attempt to explain how she rationalized her passing out repeatedly:

"Pelicot acknowledged that he had put powerful tranquilisers into his wife's food and coffee that put her to sleep for hours. Gisele said she was worried she was developing Alzheimer's or had a brain tumour because of the memory gaps."

I am not trying to blame her at all; I'm just expressing surprise that she could be drugged so many times that she wouldn't have demanded medical care to try to determine what was happening. 

[TallMuscl37]

2 hours ago, maninsoma said:

I am not trying to blame her at all; I'm just expressing surprise that she could be drugged so many times that she wouldn't have demanded medical care to try to determine what was happening. 

Idk, but I bet if it was man: they’d definitely be feeling different back there and wonder at the very least: if the partner was up to something. Whatever the case, it was just really shitty. And to have the other guys get convicted too: that is just beyond grimy.