Frenchman Dominique Pelicot, accused of drugging and repeatedly raping his then wife Gisele Pelicot, has been found guilty on all charges by French justice.
The judges have been sentenced to 20 years in prison (the maximum sentence provided by law in France) to ex-husband of the victim, Dominique Pelicotwho was drugging his ex-wife between 2011 and 2020 to rape her and so that men he contacted online could rape her while he filmed it.
Consequently, the court of Avignon (France) found Pelicot guilty of “aggravated rape”so his name will be included in the sex offender registry.
Among the remaining 50 defendants There are men with ages ranging from 27 to 74 years old.from all social classes and professions, such as firefighters, truck drivers, journalists, nurses, soldiers or even retirees.
Finally all have been found guilty of the rapes and attacks on Gisèle Pelicot by the court this Thursday. Some of the 50 defendants, not including Dominique Pelicot, have acknowledged wrongdoing, while others have continued to argue that They believed that Gisele Pelicot, the victim, had consented to sexual relations.
The crimes they range from sexual assault up to aggravated rape. So, lThe sentences issued by the courts have ranged from three to 20 years in prison.with the victim’s ex-husband, Dominique, sentenced to the maximum penalty, although after two thirds he could be eligible for parole.
Several of the defendants with the least severe sentences will not have to go to prison either and, in general, although all were found guilty of different crimes, The sentences handed down have been lower than what was requested by the Prosecutor’s Office.
Dominique studies appealing the sentence
Recent information indicates that Dominique Pelicot does not rule out appealing the sentence handed down this Thursday by the Court of Avignon, according to his lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro.
“We cannot criticize a decision of Justice, the only thing we can do is appeal and we are going to take the ten days that we have ahead of us to determine if we want to return to a trial with a popular jury,” the lawyer said before the press minutes after knowing the sentence.
Zavarro has hinted at his discontent with the sentences handed down by the court, which turn his client into the “conductor of the orchestra” and the other 50 defendants into secondary “musicians.”
“The court has differentiated between my client and the rest of the musicians“said the lawyer, who was satisfied with the way in which the trial was carried out, “with serenity.”
“My client emerges from this process with assumed responsibility and Gisèle Pelicot with dignity”he summarized.
Commotion in France
Also at the trial was Gisèle Pelicot, who arrived minutes earlier looking calm, despite the crowd that was waiting for her at the door of the Avignon criminal court (southeast France).
The woman, 72 years old, was received with applause from dozens of people who came this Thursday to show their support with banners that read legends such as ‘Thank you Gisèle’. He made no statements upon entrybut he did indicate that he would make a statement after the hearing, which will be chaired by Judge Roger Arata and four other judges (three women and one man).
Gisèle Pelicot has become a global feminist symbol by deciding that the trial would be public “so that shame could change sides.” A trial that has triggered Protest demonstrations across France in support of Gisele and spurred some soul-searching, including a debate over whether to update France’s rape law, which currently makes no mention that sex must involve consent.
Gisèle Pelicot: “Thank you to those who have supported me”
Gisèle Pelicot has spoken out about what happened and has assured that respects the sentences pronounced this Thursday against his attackers, at the same time that he said that This process also works for “unrecognized victims.”
“Right now I think of the unrecognized victims whose stories remain in the shadows, “I want you to know that we share the same struggle.”Pelicot said in the Avignon court shortly after the sentences were handed down. “I have never regretted making the entire society participate in what has happened.”
