Dominique Pelicot, 72, seen in a court sketch during last year's trial, is now facing a murder probe(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

'Beast of Avignon' Dominique Pelicot dragged from prison to face questions over murder

Dominique Pelicot, 72, who is serving 20 years in prison for the aggravated rape of his ex-wife, Gisele Pelicot, is now being questioned about the rape and murder of a 23-year-old estate agent

by · The Mirror

France’s most notorious serial-rapist was today summoned for questioning over an unsolved murder and another rape.

Dominique Pelicot, 72, was on Wednesday told he would be travelling to Paris on Thursday to take part in an enquiry being led by specialist ‘cold case’ magistrates. It follows the retired electrician and estate agent being sentenced to 20 years in prison for the aggravated rape of his ex-wife, Gisele Pelicot, also 72. He drugged her over a period of almost a decade, and allowed scores of men he met on the internet to rape and otherwise sexually abuse her.

Pelicot is currently in solitary confinement in a high security prison close to the southern city of Avignon, where he was convicted last month. An investigating source in Paris told the BFM news channel: "Dominique Pelicot has been summoned for questioning this Thursday, January 30, by the cold case unit of the Nanterre Judicial Court. He will therefore be taken from his cell in the detention centre where he is serving a 20-year sentence for the aggravated rapes committed on his ex-wife Gisele Pelicot."

Pelicot is currently serving a 20 year prison sentence

Pelicot will specifically be questioned at length about the rape and murder of Sophie Narme, a 23-year-old estate agent, who died in 1991 in greater Paris. And he will also be asked about the attempted rape of another estate agent identified only as Marion, 18, who was attacked in the same area in 1999.

Both attacks happened close to where Pelicot was living with his wife and three children at the time. His DNA was put on a national database following his arrest over the crimes involving his wife, and this has led to him being linked with both the Narme and Marion case.

Gisele Pelicot, 72, was drugged by her husband, who invited strangers to rape her( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Another investigating source said: "Pelicot is linked to at least four unsolved cases of sexual violence and a murder at the moment, and these two are currently being prioritised." The escalation in the enquiry means that Pelicot could soon be facing further criminal trials.

Pelicot denies any involvement in the murder of Sophie Narme( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Investigating Judge Nathalie Turquey, one of three magistrates in the cold case unit of the Nanterre Judicial Court, in the northern Paris suburbs, signed the latest summons. Pelicot denies any involvement in the murder of Sophie Narme. He initially confessed to the Marion attempted rape, after his DNA linked him with it, but he now denies any involvement, said at least two investigating sources. Pelicot’s lead defence lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, said she did not wish to comment on his latest summons.