“Despite the nature of the facts, Gisèle Pelicot has never been my adversary”, clarified, on France Inter, the lawyer of this man, sentenced to 20 years in prison for having drugged, raped and had his wife raped for years.
Published on 20/12/2024 09:17
Updated on 20/12/2024 09:25
Reading time: 2min
“Of course I say ‘Thank you Gisèle Pelicot!‘”, said Friday December 20 on France Inter Béatrice Zavarro, lawyer for Dominique Pelicot in the Mazan rape case. “Despite the nature of the facts, Gisèle Pelicot has never been my opponent.”
The trial ended Thursday with the conviction of all 51 defendants. Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison with a two-thirds probation period for drugging, raping and having his wife raped for years. Since then, many personalities and anonymous people have said “Thank you Gisèle Pelicot“, like Emmanuel Macron. “I always supported herajoute Me Zavarro. Madame Pelicot is in a place that she did not choose, that Dominique Pelicot imposed on her“.
“I also say thank you, because I believe that by her decision (…) to refuse the closed session that she could request and which would have been rightful, she opened the doors of this hearing“, recognizes the lawyer.
“Gisèle Pelicot has enabled this societal, political momentum, this societal discussion on part of this subject of rape that we do not know or whose contours we are largely unaware of.”
Beatrice Zavarroon France Inter
Dominique Pelicot’s lawyer then returns to the comments of a defense lawyer, Thursday after the announcement of the convictions. With a smile on his lips, he said to the crowd who had come to witness the verdict: “My client has a message for you, to all these hysterics, these bad mouthed people, the message is shit. My client walks free! You are hysterical and knitters.” “Not everything is allowed when you are the lawyer of an accused“, reacts Béatrice Zavarro, specifying that “The word ‘knitters’ was a bit awkward in my opinion, that’s for sure.“
Finally, Me Zavarro reiterates that no decision has yet been taken on a possible appeal by Dominique Pelicot: “I have to go meet him very soon at the penitentiary establishment so that we can discuss the issues of an upcoming procedure.“
