20 years in prison for French sex monster! His daughter's reaction is so blatant

Mazan/Avignon (France) - The heinous crimes committed by Dominique Pélicot (72) in 2024 moved not only France, but the whole world. In December, the rapist was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Now his daughter, Caroline Darian (46), has spoken out about his crimes - and made a dark assumption.

Caroline Darian (46) always stood by her mother in the trial against her father.
Caroline Darian (46) always stood by her mother in the trial against her father.  © Christophe SIMON/AFP

Pélicot had drugged and abused his (ex-)wife Gisèle (72) for years and also had her raped hundreds of times by at least 80 strangers while she was unconscious in Mazan, France.

During the sensational trial in Avignon, it also came to light that Pélicot had taken naked pictures of his own daughter. She recently told the BBC: "I know that he gave me drugs, probably for the purpose of sexual abuse. But I have no proof."

The 72-year-old was also not charged with this in court. Until the end, he denied that he had also abused his daughter. "How many victims does that apply to? They are not believed because there is no evidence," said Darian in this context. "They are not listened to, they are not supported."

The 46-year-old explained that she still has to deal with the "terrible burden" of being the daughter of both the victim and the perpetrator. She wished her father to die in prison.

This courtroom sketch shows Gisèle Pélicot (72, l.) and her ex-husband Dominique Pélicot (72) during his trial at the courthouse in Avignon.
ContentImage.Description   © dpa/AP | Valentin Pasquier

Gisèle Pélicot ensured that "the sense of shame changes sides"

Gisèle Pélicot made it clear at the beginning of the trial that she does not want to hide and that her face should be shown everywhere.
Gisèle Pélicot made it clear at the beginning of the trial that she does not want to hide and that her face should be shown everywhere.  © AFP/Clement Mahoudeau

Gisèle Pelicot and Caroline Darian became celebrated figureheads in the course of the trial. Gisèle Pélicot's courage in particular - facing up to her husband and the cameras, not wanting to hide, "so that the sense of shame changes sides" - brought her great international recognition.

The 72-year-old is now recovering. She is doing well so far, her daughter reported. Darian said of her father, whose terrible deeds came to light in 2020 as a result of an investigation into another crime, that he was not sick, but a "monster" who "knew exactly what he was doing".

She emphasized: "He is a dangerous man. He can't get out [of prison, editor's note]. No way."