Serial rapes in France: the maximum sentence of 20 years required against the ex-husband

The maximum sentence of 20 years of criminal imprisonment was requested Monday against Dominique Pelicot, a septuagenarian who, for a decade, drugged, raped and then had his wife raped by dozens of men recruited on the internet in Mazan, in the south-east of France.

After eleven weeks of hearings, this trial with international resonance is entering its home stretch.

At the opening of the indictment before the Vaucluse Criminal Court, Advocate General Jean-François Mayet stressed that the heart of this trial was male domination over women and that its challenge was to fundamentally change the relationship between men and women.

Before the professional magistrates making up the court, the public prosecutor began his indictment with the conductor of this decade of rapes, Dominique Pelicot, asking for 20 years of imprisonment, the maximum sentence incurred.

It is both a lot and too little. Too little considering the seriousness of the acts that were committed and repeatedinsisted the second representative of the prosecution, Laure Chabaud, emphasizing that her responsibility is full and complete.

“I have to pay”

Mr. Pelicot is the common denominator of the 50 co-defendants recruited on the internet to whom he delivered his now ex-wife, previously sedated with anxiolytics, to their home in Mazan between July 2011 and October 2020.

Dominique Pelicot has never hidden his responsibility, calling himself a “rapist”.

I’m guilty of what I did […] I ruined everything, I lost everything. I have to payhe said in September.

The search for his pleasure is found in a desire to submit to his wife, to humiliate or even degrade, through his actions, his words, the person he cherishes most in the world.

Pulling the rug out from under arguments sometimes put forward by certain defense lawyers since the start of the trial on September 2, she also assured that it was not it is not possible that Gisèle Pelicot could have voluntarily ingested these anxiolytics.

Mr. Mayet greeted the courage and the dignity of Gisèle Pelicot, victim of some 200 rapes, half of which attributed to her ex-husband.

“So that shame changes sides”

It’s a lot of emotionMs. Pelicot had said as she entered the room.

By coincidence, this indictment begins on the occasion of the international day for the fight against violence against women. It’s one more symbolestimated Mr. Antoine Camus, one of the lawyers for the civil parties.

Gisèle Pelicot, 71, achieved the status of feminist icon after refusing to allow the trial to take place behind closed doors, so that shame changes sides.

Most of the other defendants are also being prosecuted for aggravated rape and face 20 years in prison.

But the individualization of sentences is obligatory. For example, to distinguish repeat offenders – ten men came several times – from those who came only once to Mazan.

Could these men aged 26 to 74 legitimately believe that they were participating in the scenario of a libertine couple, where the wife would pretend to be sleeping? Have they been manipulated by Dominique Pelicot? Or was their discernment impaired at the time of the events, as the lawyers for 33 of them further suggested on Wednesday?

Some accused still deny

Finally, will the court have a heavier hand towards the 35 accused who, at the opening of the trial, still firmly denied having participated in a violdespite the damning videos filmed by Dominique Pelicot?

The request of the feminist groups, who put up a banner on Sunday evening in front of the court, is very clear: 20 years for each.

There needs to be nuance in the sentences. We can only understand that by following the trialestimated for his part with theAFP Monday Brigitte Jossien, a 74-year-old retiree who followed almost all of the hearings with her friend Bernadette Teyssonnière, 69 years old.

Both women do not believe this trial will bring change to society. It’s sex education in schools that will change things and also modules in [faculté] of medicine so that future doctors are more attentive to chemical submissionJudge Bernadette.

Covered almost worldwide, with 138 accredited media including 5 foreign ones, this trial has an impact well beyond French borders. As the president of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies, Karol Cariola, testified again on Thursday, welcoming courage and dignity by Gisèle Pelicot, an ordinary citizen who taught the whole world a lesson.

And this weekend, tens of thousands of people marched throughout France to demand a startle against violence against women, many referring to this extraordinary trial.

Subsequently, on Monday morning, the government announced the extension of the system allowing women victims of sexual violence to file a complaint in a hospital with an emergency or gynecological department.

In Avignon, the indictment is scheduled for three days, according to the official schedule. But according to information collected from the various parties, it could end late Wednesday morning.

After the Pelicot case, the prosecution should advance crescendo with first the less serious cases, those of Joseph C., 69 years old, and Hugues M., 39 years old, respectively accused of sexual assault and attempted rape.

After the indictment, the defense will speak until December 13. The verdict is expected on December 20 at the latest.