What penalty should be imposed on Dominique Pelicot, the man who, for about 10 years, drugged, raped, and invited others to rape his wife? After eleven weeks of witness testimony, this trial, which has shocked public opinion both in France and internationally, enters its final phase, with the prosecution asserting that the stakes are to fundamentally change the relationships between men and women.
The prosecution has already requested the maximum penalty for Dominique Pelicot: 20 years in prison.
As stated by Laure Chabot, one of the representatives of the prosecution, before the court in Vaucluse, the maximum penalty is 20 years, which is a lot, but at the same time too little, given the severity of the acts committed and repeated.
At the heart of this trial lies male dominance over women, noted Jean-François Maillet, another prosecutor representing the case.
Courage and dignity of Gisèle Pelicot
Maillet praised the “courage” and “dignity” of Gisèle Pelicot, who is the victim of approximately 200 rapes, half of which were committed by her husband.
The prosecution’s arguments, which may last up to three days, began today on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
One thing is certain: the arguments will be closely watched by the public, as has been the entire trial. Seventy-one-year-old Gisèle Pelicot, who has become a prominent figure in the feminist movement, refused to allow the trial to be held behind closed doors “so that the shame would change sides.”
The horrors unveiled
Dominique Pelicot invited dozens of men, whom he found online, to rape his former wife, whom he drugged in their home in Mazan between July 2011 and October 2020. Alongside him, 50 other men are also accused of rape.
Dominique Pelicot never denied his guilt and has even described himself as a rapist. “I am guilty (…) I ruined everything, I lost everything. I must pay,” he declared shortly after the trial began.
The majority of Pelicot’s co-defendants have been charged with the same crimes and consequently risk receiving the same sentence. However, judges may take additional factors into account, such as the fact that ten of these men, aged 24 to 74, raped Gisèle Pelicot more than once.
Denials despite evidence
Thirty-five defendants denied during the trial’s opening that they participated in “rape,” despite videos recorded by Dominique Pelicot that proved otherwise.
Feminist organisations’ demands were clear, as shown by the sign outside the courthouse on Sunday evening, which read “20 years each.”
Over the weekend, thousands of people, mostly women, marched across France demanding a universal legal framework to combat violence against women.
Government response
Today, the French government announced new measures allowing women victims of sexual violence to file complaints at any hospital with a gynaecology department or emergency unit.
In Avignon, the prosecution’s arguments are expected to last three days according to the official schedule but, according to AFP sources, may conclude by Wednesday noon.
After the case against Pelicot, the prosecution will address the other defendants, one of whom is being tried in absentia.
Following the prosecution, defence lawyers will speak until 13 December, after which the court will have a week to deliberate. The verdict is expected to be announced by 20 December at the latest.
Also read: Minor’s rape case: 6-year sentence increased to 9 by appeals court
Source: ANA-MPA-AFP-Reuters
