A rapist who assaulted unconscious Gisele Pelicot had his partner drop him off and wait in the car while he engaged in the dirty sex act.
Abdelali Dallal, 47, has admitted to two rapes in January and March 2018 and is one of 50 men currently testifying in the case that is making headlines around the world.
The shocking case involves retired electrician Dominique Pelicot, 72, who in a decade-long campaign drugged his unsuspecting wife Gisele Pelicot, 71, so that dozens of men could rape and abuse her while he watched and filmed them.
Dallal, a director of a glass company, told investigators that he met Pelicot online while surfing a swingers website called Coco.fr, which has since been closed, and was invited there by him to sleep with his wife.
In his speech, Dallal’s former partner told the court in Avignon how she had taken him to the Pelicot house in the nearby picturesque village of Mazan, but said she had not asked him why he was there.
It comes as Mrs Pelicot was greeted with warm applause as she arrived at the court this morning to give her verdict on the evidence heard so far in the ongoing trial of her husband.
Sample of Avignon rape victim Gisele Pelicot was greeted with warm applause as she arrived (pictured above) to testify in the ongoing trial of her husband
Ms Pelicot will be asked by Judge Roger Arata for her views on the evidence heard so far, and this comes as the final batch of the 50 suspects are questioned.
The shocking case involved retired electrician Dominique Pelicot (pictured), 72, who in a decade-long campaign drugged his unsuspecting wife Gisele Pelicot, 71, so that dozens of men could rape and assault her while he watched and filmed them.
This courtroom sketch by Valentin Pasquier shows Gisele Pelicot, left, and her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot, right, during his trial at the Avignon Courthouse, in Avignon, southern France, on September 17, 2024
Dallal’s former partner told the court about ousting him: ‘When we arrived I was waiting in the car, it was night and I don’t remember how long we were there.
‘He told me not to park directly in front of the house, but a little further away. I didn’t ask him why we were there or what he was doing there, I didn’t want to know.’
Dallal was later arrested after she was recognized by the partner of another defendant questioned about the case, while she was shown photographs of the defendant recovered from devices Pelicot kept.
Dallal initially denied it was him, insisting it must be ‘a lookalike’, before later admitting it was him and at the start of the trial last month he admitted the two rapes he is accused of.
During questioning, he told police he had since suffered a stroke and was 80 percent disabled. He added that he was “stupid” to return home because he knew he “did something stupid,” he said.
Large crowds had gathered outside the court this morning for the hearing, which comes midway through a case making headlines around the world for its sordid nature.
Dressed as elegantly as ever, Ms. Pelicot nodded to supporters and thanked someone who had given her a good luck card as she made her way through the crowd to the courtroom.
The Pelicot House in the village of Mazan, now known as the House of Horrors
Dressed as elegantly as ever, Ms Pelicot nodded to supporters and thanked someone who had given her a good luck card as she made her way through the crowd to the courtroom
Mr Pélicot will appear at the Avignon courthouse on September 11
Ms Pelicot will be asked by Judge Roger Arata for her views on the evidence heard so far and this comes as the final batch of 50 suspects are questioned.
This week, Quentin Hennebert, 34, a prison guard who was working at the same time Pelicot was taken into custody at Pontet prison, is due to testify following his arrest in 2020 for upskirting women in a supermarket.
Hennebert is accused of raping Ms Pelicot in November 2019 and has also pleaded guilty.
Four other men will also testify and they have been named as father-of-four Jean Luc La, 46, delivery driver Florin Rocca, 32, electrician Patrice Nicolle, 55, and Gregory Serviol, 31.
Mrs Pelicot, a mother of three, courageously gave up her right to anonymity to expose the alleged perpetrators.
The trial started almost eight weeks ago and has already heard from thirty men, most of whom deny rape and claim they thought they were taking part in a role play with a swinging couple. Many said “permission” was given when Pelicot was present.
The suspects face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, are between 26 and 74 years old and come from all walks of life, including a journalist, soldier, city councilor, carpenter and firefighter.
The abuse took place in the town of Mazan, in the south of France, and only came to light after the man was caught covering up for women in a local supermarket, prompting officers to search his home.
People take part in a march in support of rape victim Gisele Pelicot on October 5, 2024 in Mazan, France
Dominique Pelicot is accused of recruiting men online to repeatedly assault his wife over a decade
Dominique Pelicot, who allegedly drugged and raped his wife Gisele Pelicot, appears at his trial on September 17 (right)
When given a brief opportunity to speak last month, Ms Pelicot said she felt “humiliated” at being labeled an “alcoholic and conspirator” during the first part of the hearing.
Since the start of the trial, the French have come out in droves to support her, with many organizing protests across the country, the latest of which took place last weekend.
One was held in Mazan, where most of the attacks took place, with hundreds marching through the sleepy Provence town to show their support for her.
During the Avignon trial, man after man was heard claiming that Pelicot had ‘seduce’ them into participating in his twisted fantasies of raping and humiliating his wife – many of which were filmed.
Last month, Pelicot stood in the dock and admitted his guilt – accusing all his co-defendants of being willing conspirators.
He told the court: ‘I am a rapist, just like everyone else in this room.’