Dominique Pelicot, a French national accused of drugging his wife and arranging for numerous strangers to assault her over a period of ten years, has admitted to the criminal charges against him, according to French media reports.
Pelicot, 71, was scheduled to testify last week in the high-profile case that has caused widespread shock in France, but his testimony was postponed due to health reasons.
Prosecutors have stated that Dominique Pelicot offered sexual access to his wife of 50 years, Gisele Pelicot, on a website and recorded the abuse over several years. They claim he drugged his wife to enable the assaults.
He is facing charges of rape, gang rape, and violating privacy by recording and sharing sexual images.
“I admit to the charges in their entirety. I am a rapist just like all the others in this room. They knew everything.
“I ask my wife, my children, my grandchildren to accept my apologies. I regret what I did. I ask for your forgiveness, even if it is not forgivable,” Pelicot confessed to the court.
Alongside Pelicot, 50 other men accused of participating in the abuse are also on trial in the city of Avignon, located 40 kilometres south-west of Mazan, where the couple lived in Provence.
Gisele, now 72, requested a public trial to expose the crimes and highlight sexual violence.
Some defendants have claimed they believed Gisele had consented, though none have formally responded to the charges. If found guilty, they face up to 20 years in prison.
The trial has sparked public outcry, with many viewing Gisele as a symbol in the fight against sexual violence in France.