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Warning: This article contains details of sexual abuse that some readers may find distressing.
Trial underway in southern France
A dance instructor and self-styled hypnotherapist stands accused of sexually assaulting 14 women over a ten-year period, with allegations including covert filming of victims.
Cyril Zattara, 47, has been in pre-trial detention since 2021 and faces charges of rape and secretly recording around 20 other women. Proceedings are being held behind closed doors in Aix-en-Provence at the request of one complainant, though others had sought public hearings to amplify their accounts.
Method of alleged attacks
According to investigators, Zattara allegedly administered sedatives to victims by spiking their drinks before assaulting them. Many of the women were reportedly friends or romantic partners of the accused.
Digital evidence recovered from Zattara's computer included images and videos showing victims in a heavily sedated state during sexual encounters.
Victim testimony and forensic evidence
One woman filed a complaint in 2019 after attending a hypnosis session with Zattara. She told authorities she consumed wine he provided and later awoke with fragmented memories of assault, including vomiting.
Forensic analysis confirmed Zattara's DNA under her fingernails and on her clothing, while toxicology reports detected potent sleep medications in her system.
Partial admission and case parallels
Zattara has admitted to 10 of the rape charges against him. The trial, expected to last at least two weeks, follows a high-profile 2023 case in which Dominique Pelicot received a 20-year prison sentence for drugging and facilitating the abuse of his former wife over nearly a decade.
Support resources
Individuals affected by sexual violence can access support services through organizations such as the BBC Action Line.
