Daughter of Frenchman Convicted in Rape Case Says He Should Die in Prison

In her first television interview since Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison last month, Caroline Darian told the BBC that her father had always been a "sexual pervert." She described him as "a dangerous man" and emphasized, "He should die in prison."

Pelicot, 72, was found guilty of drugging and raping Gisele Pelicot, as well as facilitating similar assaults by soliciting dozens of men over a decade. Fifty co-defendants were also convicted, receiving sentences ranging from three to 15 years after a three-month trial in the southern French city of Avignon.

Gisele Pelicot, who waived her right to a closed trial, was hailed for her courage and dignity throughout the proceedings. Darian said, "There's no way you can wake up one morning and say, 'Okay, I'm going to drug my wife.' I think there are two Dominiques co-existing in him. He chose the dark side."

Darian further stated that while she does not know if her father is a "monster," she is certain he knew what he was doing and did it consciously, adding, "He's not sick." Darian also believes she was drugged and sexually abused by her father, as photographs of her unconscious body were found in the detailed records of his crimes, though she lacks concrete evidence.

Throughout the trial, Pelicot denied abusing his daughter, and the two had a tense confrontation in the courtroom. "He's always lying," Darian said. "I know that he drugged me, probably for sexual abuse, but I don't have any evidence."

Darian, who now views her father as a "stranger," said, "I look straight at the criminal, the sexual criminal he is."

The interview release coincides with the upcoming airing of a TV documentary on France 2, in which Darian will narrate her experience and discuss the use of drugs in enabling rape and sexual abuse. The 90-minute film, set to air on January 21, will also feature testimonies from six other victims of drug-facilitated assaults.