Pelicot writes of ‘brain stopping working’ when police told her of crimes of man she shared her life with for 50 years Pelicot writes of ‘brain stopping working’ when police told her of crimes of man she shared her life with for 50 years Gisèle Pelicot , who became a global symbol of courage during the trial of her ex-husband and the dozens of men who raped her while she was unconscious, has described her shock when police first showed her images of the crimes, likening herself to a “rag doll”.