French Court Begins Trial Of Man Accused Of Facilitating Rapes Of His Drugged Wife
In Avignon, France, a high-profile trial commenced on Monday involving 71-year-old Dominique P., who stands accused of permitting numerous men to sexually assault his drugged and unconscious wife over ten years. The victim, now 72, attended the court proceedings accompanied by her three children.
Her attorneys revealed that she has no recollection of the assaults, which only came to light in 2020. Antoine Camus, one of her lawyers, described the trial as a “horrible ordeal” for the victim. “For the first time, she will have to relive the rapes that she endured over ten years,” Camus told AFP.
Prosecutors allege that Dominique P. used a now-defunct website, coco.fr, to recruit men for the assaults. These men were invited to the couple’s home in Mazan, where the victim was found to be drugged, unconscious, and in a fetal position. Investigators discovered hundreds of images and videos on Dominique P.’s computer, documenting the assaults. A total of 92 rapes by 72 men were recorded, with 51 of the perpetrators identified.
The accused range in age from 26 to 74 and include a variety of professions such as a forklift driver, a fire brigade officer, a company executive, and a journalist. While some participated only once, others engaged multiple times.
Dominique P. was initially investigated in September 2020 after being caught secretly filming under the skirts of women in a shopping center. He confessed to giving his wife strong tranquilizers, including Temesta, an anxiety medication.
Prosecutors allege that Dominique P. not only participated in the assaults but also filmed them and used degrading language to encourage the men. The defense contends that the men believed they were part of consensual fantasies, though prosecutors assert they were aware the wife was drugged.
The accused include a mix of single men, as well as those who are married or divorced, with some participating in the assaults multiple times.
Dominique P., who also faces charges related to a 1991 murder and rape he denies, and an attempted rape in 1999 he admitted to after DNA evidence, is expected to face these additional allegations. Experts have noted that while he does not appear mentally ill, he exhibits a troubling need to assert control over women. The trial is anticipated to continue until December 20.
