Gisele Pelicot trial: French court jails husband who organised the mass rape of his ex-wife

A man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following a significant collective trial for drugging his wife multiple times and allowing strangers to assault her while she was incapacitated.

Dominique Pelicot, 72, has openly acknowledged all the accusations against him and confessed to adding sedatives to the meals and beverages of his wife, Gisele Pelicot, to facilitate his sexual assaults on her.

Caution: This article includes information that some readers might find troubling.

He is one of 51 individuals who faced legal proceedings for their involvement in the assaults on Ms. Pelicot, who is 71 years old.

Every man was deemed guilty of at least one crime, with almost all being convicted of rape, following a trial that has stunned France and captured international attention.

They have received sentences that add up to over 400 years in total.

Dominique Pelicot has received the maximum prison sentence possible for aggravated rape under French law.

Stay updated: Live updates on Dominique Pelicot's sentencing.

The highly publicized case prompted women in France and around the globe to participate in protests in support of Ms. Pelicot. She chose to forgo her right to remain anonymous during the trial, emphasizing that it should be the offenders who experience "shame," not the victims.

The mother of three appeared at the court in Avignon today, smiling as she was greeted by her supporters. As the defendants were pronounced guilty, she looked each one in the eye.

She previously informed the press that she would address them once the verdicts were announced.

Her fans cheered "justice for Gisele" and clapped for her as she approached the courthouse.

Among those who have committed offenses are a soldier, a plumber, and a retired firefighter.

After her husband was sentenced, the other 50 defendants received prison sentences that varied from three to 15 years.

Included in the group were Joan K, a 27-year-old service member who received a 10-year prison sentence for raping Ms. Pelicot on two occasions in 2019 and 2020, and Ahmed T, a 54-year-old plumber who has been sentenced to eight years for raping her once in 2019.

Due to legal regulations in France, all 50 defendants can only be referred to by their first names along with the first letter of their last names.

Romain V, a 63-year-old retiree, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting Ms. Pelicot on six occasions between December 2019 and January 2020.

Saifeddine G, a 37-year-old truck driver, was given a three-year prison sentence for the rape of Ms. Pelicot that occurred at her residence in 2019.

Jacques C, a 73-year-old former firefighter, was sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting a victim at her residence in 2020.

While testifying in court, Dominique Pelicot stated, "I am a rapist just like everyone else here."

Ms. Pelicot had emphasized the importance of having the trial open to the public and requested that the court display the graphic videos of the assaults that her former husband had filmed, as she wanted everyone to "witness the reality."

A large group, primarily consisting of women, gathered outside the courthouse this morning to stand by Ms. Pelicot during her trial. They waited for hours to be let inside and carried signs that said, "Gisele: Women appreciate you."

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'They looked at me as if I were trash.'

The Pelicots spent half a century together as a married couple and raised three children. After they retired, they relocated to a charming little town in Provence.

Everything seemed fine until late 2020, when Ms. Pelicot's life was shattered.

In September 2020, her husband was taken into custody for secretly recording under women's skirts in a grocery store.

Law enforcement officials conducted a search of the couple's home and their electronic devices, uncovering thousands of images and videos depicting men having sexual encounters with Ms. Pelicot, who appeared to be unresponsive at the time.

It was found that Dominique Pelicot had advertised sexual services involving his wife on a website and recorded the incident. Ms. Pelicot was under the influence of strong drugs and could not remember the assault; the police had to inform her about what occurred.

She described to the court how the men handled her as if she were "like a discarded doll, like a piece of trash."

The hard drive had explicit photos of the couple's oldest daughter, despite Dominique Pelicot's denial of any wrongdoing. It also included images captured by a concealed camera featuring his pregnant daughter-in-law. Both victims chose to give up their right to privacy.

Continue reading: Sons confront their 'demonic' father in the courtroom.

The accused individuals in the trial came from diverse ages, ethnicities, and social backgrounds. The French media referred to them as "Monsieur Tout le monde" or "Mr. Everyman" due to their wide-ranging backgrounds.

The majority of them resided within 35 miles of the couple, and a few were actually familiar to Ms. Pelicot.

Some individuals rejected the accusations of rape, asserting that they thought Ms. Pelicot had consented to being drugged and was an eager participant in a sexual role-play between the two.

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However, Ms. Pelicot expressed in court, "They didn’t force me at gunpoint. They were fully aware and conscious while they were assaulting me."

She remarked, "Why didn’t they reach out to the authorities? Even a call without revealing their identity could have made a difference and potentially saved my life."

Discussion on France's legislation regarding sexual assault

The trial has ignited a discussion on whether France needs to revise its rape legislation, as the current law does not mandate that sexual activity includes consent.

Instead, prosecutors need to demonstrate that the suspect intended to commit rape through acts of "violence, coercion, intimidation, or an unexpected situation."