Faced with his ex-wife and their three children, David, Caroline and Florian, sitting on the bench of the civil parties, the main accused however denied having made the slightest incestuous gesture against his daughter, of which he had broadcast on social networks photos of her naked and visibly asleep, sometimes wearing her mother’s underwear.
Caroline is “completely destroyed”, she needs an “audible and human response”, insisted Me Antoine Camus, one of the family’s lawyers, by questioning Dominique Pelicot, trying to obtain a confession from the accused.
“What saddens me the most is that people believe I am capable of certain things that I am not capable of doing,” he replied, repeating that he did not “remember taking these photos “: “I’m not trying to convince her with perverse answers, […] I tell her straight in the eyes that I never touched her,” he continued.
“Caroline, I never did anything to you,” he insisted, speaking directly to his daughter.
“You lie, you don’t have the courage to tell the truth! Even about your former wife!”, replied the latter, convinced that she too had been raped or sexually assaulted by the man she no longer calls than its “progenitor”.
“You will die in a lie! Alone, alone in a lie Dominique Pelicot! It’s a shame for you, you have no face!”, continued the forty-year-old, before being interrupted by the president of the court , Roger Arata.
1. Can you share your thoughts on the impact of this case on society’s perception of family dynamics and trust issues within family units?
2. How do you feel about the accused’s denial of the allegations, particularly when confronted by his own child?
3. What is the psychological toll that these allegations and legal proceedings have taken on Caroline and Florian, and how can society better support victims of sexual abuse in such situations?
4. As lawyers representing the family, what strategies do you employ to both challenge the accused’s testimony and provide emotional support to Caroline and Florian during this difficult time?
5. How do you believe the court system should handle cases like these, where there are multiple victims with conflicting stories and accusations?
6. Should there be stricter guidelines or punishments for individuals who inappropriately share photos or information on social media platforms, particularly when it comes to protecting minors?
7. What message do you hope will come out of this case for other families who may be facing similar situations?
