Frenchman Dominique Pelicot has been found guilty of drugging and repeatedly raping his ex-wife Gisele for almost ten years (from 2011 to 2020). In addition, she was also accused of contacting other men online so that they would abuse her while he recorded it.
For all this, he has been sentenced to 20 years in prison (the maximum sentence provided by law in France), while The remaining 50 defendants have also been found guilty of various crimes.. Some of them have acknowledged wrongdoing, while others have continued to argue that they believed Gisele Pelicot, the victim, had consented to sexual relations.
50 “normal” men
Among these 50 defendants, there are men with ages ranging from 27 to 74 years and from all social classes and professions: firefighters, truck drivers, journalists, nurses, soldiers or even retirees.
The crimes range from sexual assault to aggravated rape and The sentences requested by the prosecutor range between four and 18 years in prison.. The lesser sentence requested is for a defendant who is only accused of the first charge.
However, although the Court of Avignon has ruled that all are guilty of different crimes, in some cases has lowered the criminal level regarding the charges requested by the Prosecutor’s Office.
According to media present in the surrounding area, after hearing the sentence, An applause was heard outside the courtroom among the victim’s supporters. when the first guilty verdicts were leaked.
Dominique Pelicot, 72 years old, He pleaded guilty to the charges during the three-month trial. and apologized to his family. He also said that all the men he invited to his house knew that his ex-wife was unaware of what was happening to him.
Gisele, global feminist symbol
Gisele Pelicot waived her right to anonymity during the trial and demanded that the horrific abuse videos recorded by her ex-husband and the other men be seen in court, saying she hoped it would help other women to speak out.
The trial 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.
Gisele stared down her abusers with steely determination in the packed courtroom day after day, scoffing at any claims that she might have been a willing participant: “I have decided not to be ashamed, I have done nothing wrong”he said in October, “they are the ones who should be ashamed.”
