Hypnotist accused of drugging and raping women in France

Trial of Cyril Zattara for Alleged Sexual Assaults

A self-proclaimed hypnotist is on trial for allegedly drugging and raping several women. Some of the assaults were reportedly filmed.

Cyril Zattara, 47, a dance teacher and self-taught hypnotherapist, faces charges of raping 14 women over a span of 10 years. He is also accused of filming 20 other women without their consent.

Zattara has been in jail since 2021 while awaiting trial. He has admitted to 10 of the rape charges. The trial is taking place in Aix-en-Provence, France.

Trial Details

The trial is being held behind closed doors at the request of one of the alleged victims. It is expected to last at least two weeks. Some victims wanted open proceedings to share their stories with a wider audience.

Police reported that Zattara allegedly put sleeping pills in women’s drinks before assaulting them. He reportedly targeted women he knew or had intimate relationships with.

Evidence Against Zattara

Investigators found photos and videos on Zattara’s computer. These showed alleged victims in a lethargic state during sexual encounters. One woman filed a complaint in 2019 after attending one of his hypnosis sessions. She said she drank wine he offered and later woke up with fragmented memories of being raped.

DNA evidence was found under her fingernails and on her underwear. Toxicology results showed powerful sleep-inducing drugs in her system.

Related Case

This case is similar to the high-profile case of Dominique Pelicot. Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping his ex-wife, Gisèle, and allowing several men to abuse her for over a decade.

The Pelicot case brought attention to sexual violence against women in France. Gisèle Pelicot chose to waive her anonymity and requested a public trial, which gained worldwide media attention.

Judge’s Decision

Judge Roger Arata, who previously ruled in favor of Gisèle Pelicot’s public trial, ordered Zattara’s trial to be closed. This decision was made at the request of a lawyer for one of the alleged victims. The mother of one alleged victim, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed understanding for the need for anonymity.

“They say shame has shifted to the other side, but that’s not always true,” she stated.