Court finds Gisèle Pelicot’s ex-husband guilty, sentences him to 20 years – all other defendants also found guilty
A French court has today found all 51 defendants guilty in a case of drugging and rape that shocked the world, turning the victim, Gisèle Pelicot, into a symbol of courage and resilience.
The crowd there is growing, with many singing, chanting and holding up banners. A line of women hold placards spelling out the slogan: “Shame changes sides.” (photo source: Reuters)
Gisèle Pelicot’s former husband of 50 years, Dominique Pelicot, pleaded guilty to repeatedly drugging and raping her over nearly a decade. He also admitted to offering her unconscious body for sex to dozens of strangers he met online, while filming the abuse.
A panel of five judges sentenced him to the maximum term of 20 years in prison, as requested by prosecutors.
Prosecutors are also seeking sentences ranging from four to 18 years for the other defendants, most of whom are accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot while she was in a comatose state. The announcement of sentences is ongoing.
Cheers erupted outside the court in the southern French city of Avignon as news of the first guilty verdicts reached the victim’s supporters.
The 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot admitted the charges during the trial, which began three months ago, and apologised to his family. He also stated that all the strangers he invited to his home were aware that his former wife was unconscious and unaware of what was happening to her.
Many of the defendants denied the charges, claiming they believed they were participating in a consensual sex game organised by the couple and arguing that it could not be considered rape as the husband had given his consent.
Gisèle, who is also 72, waived her right to anonymity during the trial and requested that the court view the horrific videos of her systematic abuse, filmed by her former husband, in the hope of encouraging other women to speak out publicly.
The trial has sparked protests across France in support of Gisèle and has ignited public debate about whether French rape laws need to be updated, as they currently make no reference to the requirement for sexual acts to involve consent.
Day after day, Gisèle confronted her abusers with steely determination in the packed courtroom, rejecting any claims that she could have willingly participated in her abuse.
“I decided not to feel ashamed; I did nothing wrong,” she said in her testimony in October. “They are the ones who should feel ashamed,” she declared.
The Pelicot children – David, Caroline, and Florian – were present at the court to hear the verdict alongside their mother. The children have spoken out strongly against their father.
Also read: BBC 100 Women 2024: Gisèle Pelicot globally recognised
Source: ANA-MPA/Reuters/BBC
