The Avignon court (Vaucluse) is preparing to deliver its verdict concerning the highly publicized Mazan rape trial. The crowd waits outside the court.
The main accused, Dominique Pélicot, is being prosecuted for having drugged and raped his wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and for having made her suffer the same fate by other men invited to his home after exchanges on an internet site. The verdict is expected this Thursday, December 19, but it is possible that it will be delayed by half a day, or even a day, indicated the president of the court.
During the indictment, the prosecution requested sentences ranging from four to twenty years of criminal imprisonment for the co-defendants. The presence of aggravating circumstances, such as assembly and chemical submission, has been put forward to justify severe penalties. The maximum sentence of twenty years was requested for Dominique Pélicot, while committal warrants were systematically requested for all the accused.
180 accredited media including 86 from abroad
The president of the court will not only have to announce the sentences, but also justify his decision, a process which could extend the hearing throughout the day. Preparing for this trial required exceptional organization, with four broadcast rooms set up to accommodate the media, 180 of which were accredited for this event, including 86 from abroad.
Political figures, such as environmentalist deputies Sandrine Rousseau and Marie-Charlotte Garin, as well as the LFI deputy for Vaucluse, Raphaël Arnault, will be present for the announcement of the verdict. The Mazan violence trial is a case that raises profound questions about justice and the protection of victims, and its outcome will be followed closely by a wide audience.
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