Pelicot’s daughter seeks justice, accuses jailed father of assault

Among these files were two photographs of Darian, in which she appears unconscious, positioned unnaturally, and wearing underwear she does not recognize. While Pelicot has provided conflicting explanations for the images, he has always denied sexually assaulting his daughter.

“I know that he drugged me, probably for sexual abuse. But I don’t have any evidence,” Darian told BBC in January, recalling the shock of seeing the photos for the first time during the investigation.

Darian has long argued that she was also a victim of her father’s crimes, though she feels her ordeal was overlooked during his trial. The courtroom exchanges between her and Pelicot were some of the most intense moments in the 16-week proceedings.

“I never touched you, never,” Pelicot pleaded in court. “You are lying!” Darian shouted back.

To pursue the case, she has enlisted lawyer Florence Rault, who has fought for justice for other women subjected to violent crimes.

Calls for investigation

In the police complaint, excerpts of which were cited by French media, Rault criticized the lack of medical examinations or drug tests conducted on Darian. She argued that the authorities focused exclusively on Gisèle Pelicot’s case while treating her client as a “peripheral victim.” She has now urged officials to launch a “serious and in-depth” inquiry into Darian’s allegations.

Meanwhile, Béatrice Zavarro, Pelicot’s defense lawyer, told French media that Darian’s decision to press charges was “unsurprising given her statements and beliefs during the Avignon trial.” Prosecutors in Avignon previously stated that there was insufficient “objective evidence” to charge Pelicot with assaulting his daughter.

Pelicot was among 49 men sentenced in December for crimes against Gisèle Pelicot. All were found guilty of at least one charge, including rape or sexual assault. While 17 initially appealed their convictions, seven have since withdrawn their appeals. The remaining defendants are scheduled to stand trial again later this year in Nîmes, southern France.

(With inputs from BBC)