Gisèle Pelicot's daughter explains if she'll ever visit her dad after revealing she no longer speaks to mum
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault and rape which some readers may find distressing.
Gisèle Pelicot's daughter has opened up on the possibility of her ever meeting her father.
Caroline Darian claimed that due to a private comment made by her mother during her father Dominique Pelicot's trial, the two no longer speak.
He pleaded guilty to repeatedly drugging his wife and inviting strangers from the internet to rape her while she was unconscious.
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50 others were also found guilty of rape and sexual assault against Gisèle in the trial last December.
His daughter, Caroline has also brought rape charges against him, though he has continually denied her claims.
Following the trial, which saw Dominique sentenced to 20 years in prison, Caroline remarked that he 'should die' there.
But now, months on from the verdict, she has revealed if she will ever visit him behind bars.
Gisèle became a brave figure for many around the world after she waived anonymity, but it was soon reported that Caroline was a victim of her father's twisted actions.
Police said on a phone call that photos were found of her on his laptop, in a folder titled ‘My Daughter Naked’.
Now, Caroline has opened up on both her parents in the same year she released her book, I’ll Never Call Him Dad Again.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the author was asked if she would ever consider seeing her father to 'get some answers' - the answer was clear.
“Have you seen Silence of the Lambs? If we ever were face to face again, it would be exactly like that. My father is incapable of telling me what he’s done when it comes to the issue of incest. Mentally, he just cannot do it."
It's noted that this is the only time she refers to Dominique as her 'father' in the interview.
In the book, she explores her family's trauma and speaks about how she was the 'second victim' of her father's, as he was only charged with taking indecent pictures of his daughter.
“I’m a forgotten victim in this case,” Caroline told the judge during the trial.
It is unknown if Gisèle knew of her husband's actions against their daughter, though she couldn't believe it, claiming: "Your father is incapable of such a thing."
Reflecting on the broken relationship she has with her mum, Caroline explained that Gisèle 'let go' of her hand in the courtroom, heartbreakingly admitting: “She abandoned me.”
Looking back, Caroline said she never judged her mother, adding: “It wasn’t always easy because she didn’t want to hear what I was telling her about Dominique. But in that courtroom, she was supposed to help me.”
Now, Caroline claims that she can 'never forgive' her mum as Gisèle reportedly urged her to 'stop making a spectacle' of herself.
The author went on: “My mum was catapulted into the limelight; she became an icon. Meanwhile, there we were, back down on earth, with all these unanswered questions – and we are damaged. Really damaged. And we are alone.”
She also spoke about her mum's decision to continue seeing her dad, claiming that 'there is still love there' as '50 years together doesn’t get erased just like that'.
“And I guess she wants to see if there is any way Dominique is not the monster everyone thinks he is,” she suggested.
“So, I do respect her decision, just as I respect the trajectory she has chosen ever since we found out.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays
Topics: Crime, World News, True Crime
Joshua Nair