A regional court in Aachen, western Germany, on Friday, December 19, 2025, sentenced a 61-year-old man, identified only as Fernando P. under German privacy laws, to eight years and six months in prison for repeatedly drugging his wife, sexually assaulting her while unconscious, filming the acts, and distributing the videos online without her knowledge. The verdict has drawn widespread comparisons to the high-profile Dominique Pelicot case in France and intensified calls for reforms to Germany's sexual violence laws.
Fernando P., a school janitor, was found guilty of aggravated rape, dangerous bodily harm, aggravated sexual coercion, sexual assault, and violating his wife's intimate privacy through recordings in 34 documented cases. The court established offenses occurring between 2018 and 2024, though prosecutors had alleged a longer span. Some additional charges were dismissed. An appeal can be filed within one week.
The court stated that the defendant "violated the most intimate sphere of private life and personal rights" by sedating his wife in their marital home, abusing her, and sharing footage via group chats and internet platforms. Most of the trial was held behind closed doors to protect the victim's privacy, with the verdict delivered publicly.
This conviction marks the first major case of its kind in German courts involving solo drug-facilitated marital rape with online distribution, according to advocacy groups. It echoes the 2024 trial of Dominique Pelicot in Avignon, France, where Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years for drugging his then-wife Gisèle and recruiting dozens of strangers to assault her over nearly a decade. That case shocked global audiences and spurred French reforms on consent and gender-based violence.
In Germany, the Aachen ruling has reignited debates over legal gaps. Campaign group Nur Ja Heisst Ja ("Only Yes Means Yes") described the case as landmark, arguing it exposes inadequacies in the current "no means no" consent standard, which requires proof of resistance. Activists contend this fails victims who are incapacitated or unconscious, advocating for a "yes means yes" model mandating explicit, affirmative consent—already adopted in countries like Spain, Sweden, and the UK.
Another highlighted shortfall: possession of non-consensual rape videos remains legal in Germany, unlike in many EU nations. Nur Ja Heisst Ja and regional officials, including Lower Saxony's justice minister Kathrin Wahlmann, are pushing for criminalization. Wahlmann has initiated statewide efforts to ban such material, viewing the Aachen case as a catalyst for federal change.
Broader European concerns focus on online platforms enabling perpetrators. Prosecutors noted Fernando P. used messaging apps and sites to share content, similar to Pelicot's methods. Advocates warn these spaces create "ecosystems" where abusers exchange techniques, normalize violence, and recruit others, demanding stricter regulation and accountability from tech companies.
The victim's lawyer praised the court's sensitive handling, stating the plaintiff "truly had a voice" in proceedings. While declining comment on the sentence pending client discussion, the representation emphasized procedural fairness.
Legal experts note Germany's 2016 rape law reform broadened definitions to include non-verbal resistance, but campaigners argue it falls short of full consent-based standards. The case underscores persistent challenges in prosecuting hidden domestic abuse, often uncovered through digital evidence.
For advocates, the conviction signals progress: perpetrators exploiting secrecy and technology may increasingly face justice. It offers hope for stronger protections, including explicit consent laws and bans on abusive content possession, to deter future offenses and support survivors.
As Europe grapples with rising awareness of drug-facilitated and digital sexual violence, the Aachen verdict joins the Pelicot legacy in pushing legislative momentum toward victim-centered reforms.
