Started on September 2, the trial of the Mazan rapes enters this Monday, November 25 in its last month, with the indictment of the two attorneys general, Laure Chabaud and Jean-François Mayet, which should last until Wednesday. The first lawyer to plead should be Me Béatrice Zavarro, for the main accused, Domiinique Pelicot.
At least two days, maybe three: at the Mazan trial, extraordinary in all respects, a lengthy indictment is expected from this Monday, January 25 before the Vaucluse criminal court, in Avignon. Started on September 2, it will enter its last month to end before Christmas.
How will the indictment be organized?
Laure Chabaud and Jean-François Mayet, the two attorneys general, will take turns supporting the prosecution against the 51 accused. The burden is heavy, and the president of the Vaucluse criminal court gave them time to reflect, by suspending the hearing on Wednesday, November 20, after the pleadings of the two lawyers for Gisèle Pelicot and her children, Me Camus and Babonneau , civil parties.
The two magistrates must explain why, in their opinion, each is guilty of the acts with which they are accused, and what punishment, according to their actions and their personality, seems justified to them.
How much time will they spend on each accused? An hour? Twenty minutes? In any case, we will have to multiply this time by fifty, and remain within the limits set by President Roger Arata, keen to stick to his schedule. They have until Wednesday evening, at most, to complete their indictment. That is, at the daily pace followed so far by the trial, around thirty hours maximum.
What penalties will be requested?
How high will they set the requested sentences for all these men who came to abuse, between one and six times, Gisèle Pelicot sleeping in the Mazan villa? Apart from one accused, prosecuted for aggravated sexual assault, all are tried for rape aggravated by two circumstances, being committed “in meeting” with Dominique Pelicot and with the chemical submission of the victim.
In theory, everyone risks twenty years of criminal imprisonment: in absolute terms, the ordeal endured for ten years by Gisèle Pelicot could be punished by 1,000 years in prison. Behind this colossal figure, the requisitions should be much lower for defendants who have only been to Mazan once and have no criminal record.
“Today, the reality of sentences in criminal court or assize court in France, for simple rape, is around ten years. But there are two aggravating circumstances” notes a criminal lawyer from Montpellier.
“We can expect requisitions mainly in single digits, and two for the most serious cases, say between 8 and 12, or even 15 years” says a magistrate from Montpellier experienced in criminal cases. Some defendants went to Mazan up to six times. The organizer of this terrible practice, Dominique Pelicot, unsurprisingly risks maximum requisition, twenty years in prison.
How is the defense organized?
The first pleading of the defense will be that of Me Béatrice Zavarro, lawyer for Dominique Pelicot, from Wednesday November 27 if the indictment ends early, or more certainly Thursday 28. It will be followed by that of the President of the Bar, Me Patrick Gontard, for Jean- Pierre M., the only accused who is not being prosecuted for the rape of Gisèle Pelicot, but of his own wife, sedated on the advice of the septuagenarian from Mazan.
Friday 29 will begin the pleadings for those, the minority, who admitted the facts, then those of the vast majority who plead acquittal, at the rate of three lawyers per day, some defending several accused. The last to plead will be Me Nadia El Bouroumi, no later than December 13.
When will the verdict be delivered?
The president has planned a deliberation lasting several days, in which the five professional judges and their additional assessors will participate, starting on the 13th Friday evening. They will have one week left to make their decision, no later than Friday, December 20, but perhaps sooner, depending on how the trial progresses over the last month. With a strong stake, in the event of convictions with substantial firm sentences: organizing the arrest at the hearing and the incarceration of around thirty detainees who appear free, after pre-trial detention of around a year for the majority of between them.
