14 Women Betrayed: The Cyril Zattara Rape Trial France Begins

Friendship was his bait, and medicine was his weapon. In the city of Aix-en-Provence, France, a man who posed as a hypnotherapist is now facing trial for allegedly drugging and raping { "type": "span", "text": "14 women", "marks": ["stat"] }. The accused, Cyril Zattara, is charged with a decade-long spree of sexual violence that has shocked the nation.

Modus Operandi of the Cyril Zattara Rape Trial France Case

According to BBC News, Zattara targeted women he was close to, including friends and intimate partners. He allegedly slipped sleeping pills into their drinks before assaulting them. Investigators discovered a digital archive on his computer containing photos and videos of about { "type": "span", "text": "20 women", "marks": ["stat"] } in lethargic states. One victim, who came forward in 2019, recalled fragments of being raped after drinking wine offered by Zattara. Toxicological tests later confirmed the presence of powerful sedatives in her system, while DNA evidence linked him directly to the crime.

Echoes of the Dominique Pelicot Case

This trial follows the high-profile conviction of Dominique Pelicot, who was sentenced to { "type": "span", "text": "20 years", "marks": ["stat"] } for similar drugging crimes. Zattara, who has been in detention since 2021, has already admitted to { "type": "span", "text": "10 counts", "marks": ["stat"] } of rape. The proceedings are being held behind closed doors at the request of a victim, though others had pushed for a public trial to ensure their voices were heard widely.