French retiree accused of drugging wife, organising mass rapes
3 September 2024 19:01
On Monday, a French retiree faced court, accused of drugging his own wife and organising gatherings during which the unsuspecting woman was raped by at least several dozen men. Most of them have been identified and also charged.
This story shocked all of France. The case came to light in 2020 when 71-year-old Dominique P. from Provence was arrested after spying on women at a shopping centre. The police found shocking material on his computer.
According to the newspaper Le Monde, investigators revealed over 20,000 photos and videos with his wife and strangers. In some of them, the woman was unconscious.
He drugged his wife and offered her to other men
It was determined that since 2011, the retired Frenchman had been drugging his wife by adding strong tranquillizers to her food. He would then bring men recruited from the internet to their home, who would rape the unsuspecting woman. Dominique P. instructed them to warm their hands, not use aftershave, and not smoke so that the woman would not wake up due to the strong smell. Afterwards, he would wash his wife's body.
Based on the photos and videos, investigators determined that at least 72 men had used the woman 92 times over the years (some returning six times). They managed to identify 51 suspects (ranging from 26 to 74 years old). They also faced trial on Monday alongside the husband of the victim.
Among the accused are a firefighter, a journalist, and a prison guard. The victim's husband did not take money from them for handing over his wife; instead, he encouraged them to exploit her, as highlighted by the French media. Dominique P. admitted that only three men left their home immediately after arriving, while the others took advantage of the opportunity. The accused claimed they were helping him fulfil his erotic fantasies.
The 72-year-old victim learnt everything from the police. During the trial, she will see the heinous recordings for the first time.
- Dominique P., who claims to have been raped by a nurse when he was nine years old, "is ready to face his family and wife," said the accused's lawyer, Beatrice Zavarro, in an interview with the French Press Agency AFP.
Source: Le Monde, France24
