In the trial of Gisèle Pelicot's multiple rapes, her ex-husband Dominique was found guilty. This was decided by the criminal court of Vaucluse in French
Avignon. He has to be in prison for 20 years. In doing so, the court followed the public prosecutor's office, which had demanded the maximum sentence for Dominique Pelicot. He was present for the sentencing.
The 50 co-defendants were also all found guilty. Despite their lawyers' demands, not a single one was acquitted. One of them was only convicted of attempted murder
rape guilty, two were accused of sexual violence. The court found everyone else guilty of aggravated rape.
Defendants must be in prison for between three and 15 years
However, when it came to the punishments for the co-defendants, the judges sometimes fell short of the prosecutor's demands: the punishments start at three years in prison, two of which are suspended, French media report. Four defendants received a five-year prison sentence for rape or attempted rape, also partly on probation.
A 63-year-old was sentenced along with Dominique Pelicot to 12 years in prison for drugging and raping his own wife, five years less than what prosecutors had demanded. According to French media, the highest sentence among co-defendants was 15 years for a man who raped Gisèle Pelicot six times, even though he knew he was HIV-positive. Three others who were also raped six times must be imprisoned for 13 years.
They can all still appeal after the verdict is announced. Dominique Pelicot's lawyer will decide within ten days whether to do so.
Gisèle Pelicot also present
Gisèle Pelicot and her three children were also present on the last day of the trial. Numerous supporters welcomed her in front of the court, French media report. Gisèle Pelicot announced that she would not comment until after the verdict had been announced. During the three-and-a-half-month trial, more and more people gathered outside the courthouse in support of her.
Many of the defendants had already arrived at the court hearing with backpacks, French media reported. Reasons that have not previously been in custody could be taken into custody immediately after the verdict. More than 180 journalists were accredited for the process.
Mass rapes
Dominique Pelicot confessed his actions in court. During the trial, he admitted to drugging Gisèle Pelicot with sleeping pills for at least ten years, sexually abusing her and offering to rape numerous other men over the Internet. His lawyer Béatrice Zavarro referred to the defendant's allegedly difficult childhood in court.
Dominique Pelicot was exposed when he tried to film women up their skirts in a supermarket. Investigators then found numerous photos and films of Gisèle Pelicot's rapes. 50 men were identified and were also charged in the current trial. Dominique Pelicot found the men in a forum called “Against Their Will”.
On the last day of the trial, he apologized to his ex-partner and his family, who had broken off contact with him. Prosecutors had demanded the maximum sentence for Pelicot and prison sentences for all defendants. Some of the co-defendants admitted the crimes. However, many argued that they did not know that Gisèle Pelicot did not agree to it. However, footage obviously shows her sleeping. Even her ex-husband says the defendants knew about the abuse.
More protection for women
The verdict also found Dominique Pelicot guilty of taking photos and videos of his daughter and daughter-in-law. During the trial, his daughter repeatedly pointed out that she too could have been a victim of her father. However, this could not be proven.
The abuse trial in Avignon was followed by many people in France and around the world. Gisèle Pelicot is admired in her home country for her courage and determination. They had insisted that the trial be held publicly – their ex-husband and the other accused abusers had wanted to prevent that. Shame should switch sides, she argued: not she, but the perpetrators should be ashamed of the abuse.
French politicians were now discussing the consequences. Above all, reporting sexual violence should be made easier and awareness of the problem of misuse of these drugs should be increased: police officers should be trained in dealing with women who want to report abuse, blood samples should be easier to test for sleeping pills and other drugs, and Women should be able to report crimes in hospitals.
