New Delhi: A chilling case that has shocked France reached the courtroom on Monday as a 71-year-old French pensioner stood trial for allegedly drugging his wife and allowing scores of strangers to rape her over a decade. The trial, taking place in Avignon, involves 50 men who are also being prosecuted for their involvement in the abuse.Frances state-owned power utilityThe defendant, a former employee of Frances state-owned power utility EDF, is accused of drugging his wife, now 72, with powerful sedatives, rendering her unconscious as he orchestrated the assaults. According to police, 92 rapes were committed by 72 men, with 51 of them identified. The assaults took place in the couples home in Mazan, a small village near Avignon.The case came to light in September 2020 when Dominique P. was caught secretly filming under womens skirts at a shopping center. The subsequent police investigation led to the discovery of hundreds of photos and videos of his unconscious wife being raped. The footage showed the woman, often in a fetal position, while her husband filmed and encouraged the assaults.Trial is not the first brush with the law for Dominique P.Dominique P. admitted to authorities that he administered tranquilizers, such as Temesta, to his wife. He claimed the men were aware that his wife was drugged, though some claimed they believed they were participating in consensual activities with a willing couple.The trial, which the victim requested be held publicly, is expected to be a harrowing ordeal for her as she faces the reality of the abuse she endured without her knowledge. Her lawyers stated that she has no memory of the events and only discovered the horrific acts in 2020. The trial is not the first brush with the law for Dominique P., who is also under investigation for a 1991 murder and rape, and an attempted rape in 1999.
