Frenchman accused of mass rape of wife, admits to charges: ‘I am a rapist’
Dominique Pelicot, accused of drugging and raping his wife with dozens of men, has admitted to all charges in a French court
Dominique Pelicot, the Frenchman accused of drugging his wife and recruiting dozens of strangers to rape her over nearly a decade, on Tuesday admitted the various charges he faces and begged his family’s forgiveness, French media reported.
Pelicot had been due to testify last week in a case that has shocked France, but his appearance was delayed due to health issues. He appeared in court with a cane.
“I admit to the charges in their entirety,” the 71-year-old was cited as saying by BFM TV, whose reporter was present in the courthouse.
“I am a rapist just like all the others in this room … 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,” he said, according to French media.
“They all knew” that he was inviting them to rape her, he said.
But he added: “She did not deserve this.”