A French court on Thursday declared the ex-husband of Gisèle Pelicot guilty of aggravated rapes and all other charges against him.
The verdict for 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot, who stood trial along with 49 other men on charges of aggravated rape and attempted rape, was read by the lead judge of the court in Avignon, Roger Arata. He hasn’t yet delivered the sentence, which can be up to 20 years imprisonment.
The appalling ordeal endured by Pélicot over nearly a decade, in what she believed was a loving marriage, has shaken France to its core. Her bravery during the grueling three-month trial has turned the retired power company worker into a national symbol of resilience and a feminist hero.
Prosecutors have demanded the maximum sentence for Dominique Pélicot, citing the egregious nature of his crimes. For the other defendants, prosecutors requested sentences ranging from 10 to 18 years. Additionally, they sought a four-year prison term for another individual charged with aggravated sexual assault. The sentencing recommendations reflect the gravity of the case, which has been described as one of the most harrowing in recent French legal history.
The 51 men on trial were accused of participating in Dominique Pélicot’s depraved fantasies, which involved the repeated rape and abuse of his wife. These acts were carried out in the couple’s retirement home in the quiet Provence town of Mazan and other locations.
During the trial, Dominique Pélicot admitted to drugging his wife by secretly lacing her food and drinks with tranquilizers. He testified that the drugs rendered her unconscious for hours, allowing him to subject her to horrific abuse without her knowledge. His shocking testimony laid bare the extent of his calculated and prolonged betrayal.
One of the men on trial faced charges not for assaulting Pélicot but for drugging and raping his own wife, allegedly with the assistance and drugs provided by Dominique Pélicot. Dominique Pélicot was also tried for raping this man’s wife, further deepening the horrifying revelations in the case.
The five-judge panel reached their rulings through a secret ballot process, requiring a majority vote to secure convictions and to determine the sentences for those found guilty. This method underscores the gravity and complexity of the landmark trial.
The trial, which captivated and horrified the public, has become a rallying point for campaigners against sexual violence. Pélicot’s story has reignited debates on the need for stronger protections against abuse and harsher penalties to combat rape culture in France. Advocates are now calling for sweeping reforms to address the systemic issues that allowed such atrocities to go unchecked for years.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
