Husband Drugged, Raped, and Filmed Wife for 15 Years

In a disturbing case that has drawn chilling comparisons to the ordeal of French woman Gisele Pelicot, a 61-year-old man is currently on trial for allegedly drugging, raping, and filming his wife for 15 years. The trial, which opened on November 11th at the Regional Court of Aachen, centers around the accused, Fernando S., who is accused of sedating his wife with medication between 2009 and the spring of 2024 before sexually assaulting her and recording the attacks.

Prosecutors claim that Fernando S. not only abused his wife but also shared the footage with other men in online chat groups and on internet platforms. Investigators reportedly found extensive video material showing the assaults as well as other secret recordings of the victim in states of undress.

The case has sparked outrage, with the accused facing a total of 40 charges, including six counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, one count of aggravated assault, and 30 counts of violating the most intimate sphere of personal life through the taking of photographs. The aggravated assault charge relates to an incident in which the defendant allegedly sedated his wife, leaving her in such poor condition that she required medical treatment.

Fernando S. has been held in custody since his arrest in February and is expected to face a verdict in mid-December. The trial is ongoing, with the public excluded from the hearings to protect the victim's privacy.