Dominique Pelicot jailed for 20 years over mass rape of wife

All 50 of the Frenchman's co-defendants were also convicted

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A French court found Dominique Pelicot guilty on Thursday of drugging and raping his wife, Gisele Pelicot, over nearly a decade, in a case that shocked the world.

Pelicot, 72, was sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison, as requested by prosecutors.

Alongside him, 50 other defendants were convicted, with 46 found guilty of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault.

Their sentences ranged from 3 to 15 years in prison, which was less than the four-to-18 years requested by the prosecution.

All defendants have 10 days to decide whether to appeal.

Photo: Reuters

Gisele Pelicot, who is also 72, waived her right to anonymity and sat in the courtroom throughout the three-month trial. Her testimony, courage, and determination to bring her abusers to justice have made her a symbol of strength.

After the guilty verdicts, supporters outside the courtroom in Avignon cheered, and Gisele received praise for her resilience. "I’ve decided not to be ashamed, I’ve done nothing wrong," she said in court. "They are the ones who must be ashamed."

Photo: Reuters

The abuse began when Dominique Pelicot, her husband of 50 years, drugged Gisele with powerful tranquilizers that left her unconscious for hours. Pelicot then invited dozens of men to sexually assault her while she was unconscious.

Gisele, unaware of the extent of the abuse, initially feared she was developing Alzheimer's or a brain tumor due to memory lapses caused by the drugs.

Dominique Pelicot admitted to drugging his wife, Gisele, by adding powerful tranquilizers to her food and coffee, which caused her to fall unconscious for hours at a time. Gisele, who had been concerned about her memory lapses, initially feared she was developing Alzheimer's or a brain tumor. In court, she shared her hope that the public attention surrounding her case would offer support to other women who have experienced sexual abuse.

She downplayed any praise for her bravery, stating, "It's not courage. It's determination to change things. This is not just my battle, but that of all rape victims."

Gisele Pelicot, demanded that graphic videos documenting the abuse she suffered, which were recorded by her ex-husband, be shown in court. She explained that her goal in allowing the disturbing footage to be presented was to help raise awareness and encourage other women who have experienced similar trauma to speak out. By sharing her own painful story, Gisele hoped to inspire others to break their silence and seek justice.