Dominique Pelicot, a 72-year-old man imprisoned for orchestrating the mass rape of his wife, Gisèle, is under investigation for two additional assaults dating back to the 1990s. In December 1991, Sophie Narme, a property agent, was murdered in Paris by a man who used a false identity to arrange an apartment viewing. Detectives noted the presence of ether, an anaesthetic drug, at the crime scene. Pelicot, who denies this crime, was placed under formal investigation in October 2022 over these incidents.
In a separate incident on 11 May 1999, another property agent, known by the pseudonym Marion, narrowly escaped an attempted rape in a suburb of the capital. Investigators have linked Pelicot to this crime, citing DNA evidence found on Marion's shoe. During his trial, Pelicot admitted to attempting to rape Marion. The cases against him have been grouped together since September 2022 and are being handled by a team specializing in unsolved cases and serial crimes.
Pelicot's recent investigation comes after he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in the rape and abuse of his wife Gisèle. He had drugged her and enlisted nearly 50 men to assault her over almost a decade. The criminal case was significant, lasting three months and marking France's largest-ever rape trial.
Gisèle's decision to make the trial public has stirred national discourse on issues of rape, consent, and gender violence. Her bravery in coming forward led to widespread support, with hundreds gathering outside the court to chant her name by the trial's end. This case has reignited conversations about these critical societal issues.
Detectives have identified similarities between both the 1991 and 1999 cases, prompting further scrutiny of Pelicot's actions during that period. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the truth behind these heinous acts and deliver justice for the victims involved.
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