Caroline Darian, the daughter of Gisèle Pelicot, told the BBC her father deserved to "die in prison" following his 20-year sentence for drugging and raping his wife, then delivering her to dozens of strangers in southern France.
"He should die in prison; he is a dangerous man," she remarked during an interview set to air Monday night on BBC Two, her first since the historic Mazan trial ended in Avignon on 19 December 2024.
Caroline Darian, 46, reiterated her belief that she too had been victimised by her father after finding photos of herself unconscious on a bed in underwear she didn’t recognise.
"I am convinced I was drugged to be raped, but I have no proof. [Dominique Pelicot] has always denied it, but his story changes every time," she lamented.
During the Mazan trial, which garnered global attention, 51 men were convicted of raping Gisèle Pelicot, who became a feminist icon for refusing a closed trial.
According to Caroline Darian, her mother struggled to accept the possibility that her ex-husband might have also assaulted their daughter: "For a mother, it’s hard to process all that at once."
On 21 January, France 2 will broadcast the documentary "Chemical Submission: Shifting the Shame," narrated by Caroline Darian, now a prominent advocate.
During the trial, in which she says she was "the great forgotten one," she had a violent confrontation with her "biological father," demanding he "tell the truth."
"You will die in lies! Alone, alone in lies, Dominique Pelicot!" she exclaimed after he denied again.
Dominique Pelicot accepted his sentence and will not appeal, unlike 17 of the other convicted individuals.
"When I look back, I don’t really remember the father I thought he was. I see a sexual criminal," Caroline Darian told the BBC.
"I believe there are two Dominique’s within him, and he chose the dark side. I don’t know if he’s a monster, but he knew exactly what he was doing. He is not ill," she added.
