Monster of Avignon: Years of abuse and deception revealed

According to the Daily Mail, Pelicot admitted to regularly drugging his wife, Gisele, by adding narcotics to her evening meals and wine to render her unconscious. He then brought men into their home in southern France, where the woman was assaulted in their shared bedroom.

Incriminating evidence of Pelicot's heinous acts, consisting of over 20,000 photos of the crimes, was discovered after his arrest in 2020. He was reported to the police only after being caught photographing women's underwear in a local supermarket.

In the ongoing case, Pelicot, along with 50 other men—identified by the police as accomplices—faces various charges related to rape and sexual assault. While the 71-year-old pleaded guilty, most of the accused claim they were "deceived." They explain that Pelicot allegedly informed them that his wife was voluntarily participating in an erotic game where she pretended to be unaware.

During the trial, held in the criminal court in Vaucluse, seven men, including a nurse, a construction worker, and a confectioner, who played significant roles in this shocking scandal, gave their initial testimonies. Throughout the hearings, Pelicot was escorted to court under strict security, transported in an armored vehicle, and protected by a motorcycle convoy. Photos of the accused have already reached the media, though he attempted to cover his face.

The trial of Pelicot and his co-defendants will continue until the end of the year, and numerous protests are already taking place in France, where people express solidarity with the victim. The world anxiously awaits the outcome of this horrifying trial, which has undoubtedly changed societal perceptions of the dangers of internet misuse and the trust placed in those closest to us.