Avignon, France: A French court has delivered a landmark verdict, convicting 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot and 50 co-defendants in a mass rape case that shocked the world. The criminal court in Avignon found Pelicot guilty of orchestrating the drugging and repeated sexual abuse of his ex-wife, Gisele Pelicot, over nearly a decade, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Dominique Pelicot, who admitted to the charges during the three-month trial, was sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison. Prosecutors sought sentences ranging from four to 18 years for the other defendants, most of whom were accused of participating in the rape. The co-defendants, aged between 27 and 74, included individuals who admitted wrongdoing, while others claimed they believed Gisele had consented.
During his testimony, Pelicot revealed that he drugged his wife of 50 years and facilitated her abuse by strangers he recruited online, recording the assaults. He denied misleading his accomplices, stating:
“I am a rapist like the others in this room.”
The court ultimately convicted 47 defendants of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault. Lead Judge Roger Arata ruled that Dominique Pelicot would not be eligible for parole until serving two-thirds of his sentence.
Speaking after the verdict, Gisele Pelicot expressed her respect for the court’s decision and acknowledged the other survivors whose stories remain untold.
“I respect the court and the decision of its verdict,” she said, adding:
“I believe in a future where everyone, woman and man, can live in harmony.”
Gisele, who waived her right to anonymity to shed light on her ordeal, testified in October, stating:
“I’ve decided not to be ashamed. I’ve done nothing wrong. They are the ones who must be ashamed.”
Her courage in opening the trial to the public has been hailed as a powerful step toward justice and accountability in addressing sexual violence.