Getty ImagesA court in the German city of Aachen has sentenced a man to eight-and-a-half years in prison for repeatedly drugging and raping his wife, filming the acts and then posting them online.
The man, named only as Fernando P in line with German privacy laws, was found guilty of aggravated rape, grievous bodily harm and violation of personal privacy.
The court found the 61-year-old, who is originally from Spain, guilty of sedating and raping his wife at their home for a period of several years from 2018 to 2024.
A spokesperson for the court, Katharina Effert, said the man also filmed the abuse and shared it online.
“He uploaded videos of these acts to chat groups and internet platforms, making them available to other users,” she said.
Much of the trial was held behind closed doors to protect the identity of his wife.
Her lawyer, Nicole Servaty, told journalists that she “really had a voice in this proceeding”, adding: “She was able to testify, to express her feelings and everything that has burdened her.”
She said the ruling could not make up for what happened. “But it might help a bit to cope with things and process them.”
The verdict is still subject to appeal.
Getty ImagesGerman media say the case bears similarities to the high-profile case in France last year concerning Dominique Pelicot.
He was found guilty of secretly drugging his wife, Gisèle, and inviting scores of men to rape her while she was unconscious for years.
Gisèle’s decision to waive her anonymity and hold a public trial turned her into a feminist icon, celebrated for her powerful testimony and courage.
Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office, the BKA, says that the victims of sedation and subsequent sexual abuse are “almost exclusively women”.
It says such crimes “usually take place by exploiting a relationship of trust” in marriage, partnerships, families or among close acquaintances.