Catherine Porter

Me too. It's nice to be back with you, Michael.

Me too. It's nice to be back with you, Michael.

No. Oh, my God. And I think it hasn't receded from the French consciousness either, because once you put your mind to it and you lock your eyes on it, it's really hard to tear them away. This is a story of... A rape trial in which 51 men are on trial at the same time for raping or sexually assaulting the same woman. So I think that even if you just hear that much, it's so much to handle.

No. Oh, my God. And I think it hasn't receded from the French consciousness either, because once you put your mind to it and you lock your eyes on it, it's really hard to tear them away. This is a story of... A rape trial in which 51 men are on trial at the same time for raping or sexually assaulting the same woman. So I think that even if you just hear that much, it's so much to handle.

But there's all these other elements that have made this case impossible to look away from. And the most important one is the woman at the center and the way she has conducted herself throughout this trial and her decision really to use her own private torment and hell as a force for greater good to change society.

But there's all these other elements that have made this case impossible to look away from. And the most important one is the woman at the center and the way she has conducted herself throughout this trial and her decision really to use her own private torment and hell as a force for greater good to change society.

Sure. So this case begins in the end of 2020, and it involves a married couple living in the south of France, Giselle Pellicot and her husband, Dominique. They had been married for about 50 years and had retired from the Paris region and moved down to this small, idyllic town. And in many ways, they lived a very idyllic life. He was going for long bike rides. She had become a big walker.

Sure. So this case begins in the end of 2020, and it involves a married couple living in the south of France, Giselle Pellicot and her husband, Dominique. They had been married for about 50 years and had retired from the Paris region and moved down to this small, idyllic town. And in many ways, they lived a very idyllic life. He was going for long bike rides. She had become a big walker.

They had three children who they're very close to and seven grandchildren who would come down for long weekends. And by all accounts, they were very happy, except for she was suffering some weird medical problems. Her hair was falling out. She had lost quite a bit of weight, but most notably, she had these increasing blackouts.

They had three children who they're very close to and seven grandchildren who would come down for long weekends. And by all accounts, they were very happy, except for she was suffering some weird medical problems. Her hair was falling out. She had lost quite a bit of weight, but most notably, she had these increasing blackouts.

And he was driving her to different medical appointments to try and figure out what was going wrong. And then, one day in September, things began to really change. Her husband, Dominique, is caught by security guards filming up the skirts of women in a nearby grocery store. And they call the police.

And he was driving her to different medical appointments to try and figure out what was going wrong. And then, one day in September, things began to really change. Her husband, Dominique, is caught by security guards filming up the skirts of women in a nearby grocery store. And they call the police.

The police come and they take not only his two cell phones and cameras he's using, but they go back to his house and get his laptop and some other electronics. And they discovered something pretty shocking on them. They found these pictures and videos of a woman who seemed to be unconscious being raped and some screen captures of conversations about raping her.

The police come and they take not only his two cell phones and cameras he's using, but they go back to his house and get his laptop and some other electronics. And they discovered something pretty shocking on them. They found these pictures and videos of a woman who seemed to be unconscious being raped and some screen captures of conversations about raping her.

Yeah, that is right. When all this is happening, Giselle is in Paris helping take care of some of her grandkids. So she only learns about it from her husband when she gets back. And he only tells her about the arrest at the store, not anything that the police have found on his electronics because he hasn't been confronted by that either.

Yeah, that is right. When all this is happening, Giselle is in Paris helping take care of some of her grandkids. So she only learns about it from her husband when she gets back. And he only tells her about the arrest at the store, not anything that the police have found on his electronics because he hasn't been confronted by that either.

He says he was caught, you know, filming up the skirts of women. And he's in tears. He apologizes. And she says her reaction is, I will stay with you because I've always stood beside you and I will forgive you. And their life kind of returns to what it was beforehand. And then in November, the cops call her and say, do you know what your husband's been charged for? And she says, yes, I do.

He says he was caught, you know, filming up the skirts of women. And he's in tears. He apologizes. And she says her reaction is, I will stay with you because I've always stood beside you and I will forgive you. And their life kind of returns to what it was beforehand. And then in November, the cops call her and say, do you know what your husband's been charged for? And she says, yes, I do.

I'm a little worried about it, but we're talking about it and we're going to work on it together. And they say, well, we'd like you to come down when he comes down for his next meeting at the police station. So That morning they get up, they have breakfast, she says, totally normal conversation. They get in the car, they drive to the police station.

I'm a little worried about it, but we're talking about it and we're going to work on it together. And they say, well, we'd like you to come down when he comes down for his next meeting at the police station. So That morning they get up, they have breakfast, she says, totally normal conversation. They get in the car, they drive to the police station.