“My uncle called me… He raped me in front of her”: a guest from It starts today freezes the set

“A united family, and one day a crime”. The title of the show It starts today of Tuesday September 13, 2022 again foreshadowed poignant testimonies on the screen. Originally from Seine-et-Marne, Jenny came to sit on the couch of Faustine Bollaert accompanied by her cousin Justine. Seven years ago the young woman freed herself froma heavy burden that had the effect of a bomb with his loved ones. “I was encouraged to reveal that I had been raped by my mother’s brother from the age of 13 to 18″she said at the start of her speech.

Now 37 years old, Jenny confided for the very first time to her cousin, who was only 11 years old at the time of the events. “She confessed to me that she had a sexual relationship with our uncle”remembered Justine before cracking up on set crushed by the weight of guilt. At the time, she did not understand the gravity of the situation. It wasn’t until she was brought in to testify to the police years later that Justine realized what Jenny had been through: “The brigadier ended up saying to me: ‘but in any case there in the file relates five years of acts of rape. And there, it was hard”.

Jenny: “He raped me in front of her and they had sex in front of me”

The ordeal has begun during a weekend in the mountains. “When we arrived the first day he took my hand and put it on his penis”recounted Jenny describing repeated touching that has increased. Then his uncle started to violate regularly when she was at her grandmother’s house. But she was not at the end of her troubles. “His companion after two years participated in the facts with him”revealed Jenny before giving sordid details. “They asked me to come and sleep at their place. He raped me in front of her and they had sex in front of me. And that happened twice.”

Jenny waited almost until her wedding day, an event to which her rapist uncle was invited, to break the silence. If she’s been silent for so long, it’s for fear of breaking “the close ties” from his family. Following this terrible revelationthe family showed up “very attentive” during the five years of legal proceedings. The investigation has brought to light other victims, including the daughter of this man who never admitted the facts. At the end of the trial, he was sentenced to thirteen years in prison in 2021. For her part, Jenny tries to rebuild herself with the unconditional support of her family. “I learned to make it a strength”she said.