Gisèle Pélicot’s reaction to the convictions

15:20 – The summary of the verdict at the Mazan trial

At the Mazan trial, the sentences ranged from 3 years in prison, 2 of which were suspended, to 15 years in prison. They are all lower than the requisitions that had been made. The only exception concerns Dominique Pélicot sentenced to 20 years of criminal imprisonment in accordance with what was required. For the other accused:

• 2 were sentenced to 3 years in prison, 2 of which were suspended.
• 4 were sentenced to 5 years in prison, but 3 of them received 2 years of suspended sentence and the last 3 years of suspended sentence.
• 3 were sentenced to 6 years in prison.
• 4 were sentenced to 7 years in prison.
• 12 were sentenced to 8 years in prison.
• 4 were sentenced to 9 years in prison.
• 3 were sentenced to 10 years in prison
• 1 was sentenced to 11 years in prison
• 3 were sentenced to 12 years in prison
• 3 were sentenced to 13 years in prison
• 1 was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

14:14 – An appeal trial possible but facing a popular jury

There may be a new trial for Mazan if Dominique Pélicot, the accused or the prosecution decide to appeal. But if the first instance judgment was held before a criminal court, an appeal trial will be held before an assize court with a major difference. If in the criminal court it is professional magistrates who render a verdict, in an assize court it is a popular juror. However, the apprehension of rape cases and the Mazan affair will not be the same between informed magistrates and civilians. One of the defense lawyers also estimated that “professional judges were needed to resist popular pressure” on this case.

13:53 – We should not be “surprised” by the sentences according to a defense lawyer

While the sentences were deemed insufficient at the end of Mazan’s trial, defense lawyers did not agree. Me Roland Marmillot also indicated that we should not be “surprised” to have sentences lower than the requisitions which were, according to him, “exaggerated”. The lawyer believes that the sentences handed down this Thursday “were done in consideration so that there would not be too many appeals”.

1:42 p.m. – Another hearing scheduled in a few months in the Mazan rape case

A new hearing organized for civil interests, that is to say the damages paid by those found guilty to the victims, will take place at the beginning of March 2025 announcement BFMTV. During this hearing, the presence of the civil parties, including Gisèle Pélicot, is not necessary.

1:35 p.m. – Women’s Liberation Movement anthem sung

Gisèle Pélicot having left the Avignon courthouse, activists began to sing the anthem of the Women’s Liberation Movement (MLF). The song created in 1971 using the tune of the deportees’ song “Chan des Marais”. After the MLF anthem, other slogans and songs of support for rape victims are sung. “The culprit is not me. The rapist is you”, we can hear.

1:30 p.m. – An altercation between a defense lawyer and protesters

Before Gisèle Pélicot’s release, a defense lawyer was attacked in front of the courthouse. The tone rose between Me Christophe Bruschi and the demonstrators supporting Gisèle Pélicot when the lawyer proclaimed in front of the crowd: “My client is free, my client is free”. Earlier in the morning, the lawyer and a crowd of demonstrators had heated exchanges as shown in the images from Dauphiné Libéré.

1:25 p.m. – “Thank you Gisèle”: applause and cheers at the end of the trial

Gisèle Pélicot leaves the courthouse escorted by several gendarmes. She was greeted by the cheers of the crowd of demonstrators gathered in front of the courthouse. “Thank you Gisèle! Thank you Gisèle!” chants the crowd. She appeared with a relieved face and smile and was escorted to her car.

13:09 – “I respect the court and the decision of the verdict” declares Gisèle Pélicot

Gisèle Pélicot recalled having refused the closed session to allow the company to “take up the debates which were held” during the trial. “I have never regretted this decision,” she assured. As for the sentences handed down deemed too weak by her children and the feminist demonstrators, Gisèle Pélicot declared “to respect the court and the decision of the verdict”.

13:06 – The words of Gisèle Pélicot after the verdict of the Mazan trial

Gisèle Pélicot briefly spoke “with deep emotion” at the end of the hearing. “This trial was a very difficult ordeal and at this moment I think first and foremost of my three children, my grandchildren – it is for them that I led this fight – as well as my daughters-in-law. I think of all the other families affected by this tragedy, I think of the unrecognized victims whose stories often remain in the shadows, I want to tell them that we share the same fight,” she said. Gisèle Pélicot also had a word for all the people who supported her during the almost four months of the hearing, saying she drew from their testimonies “the strength that [lui] made it possible to come back every day to face these long days of hearing.

12:50 – The hearing is over

The hearing is now over. The accused and the civil parties who will leave in a few minutes. When she leaves, Gisèle Pélicot could speak.

12:48 – A “logical and coherent scale of sentences” according to a defense lawyer

Some defense lawyers were questioned by journalists at the courthouse and some, like Me Stéphane Simonin, judge the sentences to be more appropriate than the requisitions that had been made. As a reminder, the penalties are lower than what the requisitions provided for. The lawyer who represents two defendants at the Mazan trial – one is sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, the other to 5 years with 2 years suspended – says he finds these sentences “severe” in view of the defense adopted, but considers that the scale of penalties is in a “logical and coherent” scale compared to that “in which the advocates general were confined”.

12:36 – Convictions lower than the average sentences handed down for rape

Feminist demonstrators present in front of the Avignon courthouse continue to protest against the sentences handed down against the defendants in the Mazan trial, which they consider too weak. They are based on the comparison with the average of the sentences handed down against people judged guilty of rape: the convictions of the verdict are lower than this national average of 2023. Some demonstrators believe that the shame after having changed sides, passing from the victim to the accused, and now to French justice. “Go ahead and rape the women, it’s open bar,” said some people wishing to denounce the decision of the Vaucluse criminal court.

12:23 – The hearing continues with the explanation of the sentences to the accused

Gisèle Pélicot and her children returned to the courtroom, the accused also remained in the room because the hearing was not over. After a short suspension following the verdict, the president spoke again before the criminal court to explain to each accused the justifications for their sentence and specify what awaits them according to their conviction. A procedure which takes time since 51 accused were tried this Thursday.

12:16 – Why is there such a gap between the sentences handed down at the Mazan trial?

The sentences handed down against the different accused were differentiated according to the profiles, the positions of each accused according to whether they admitted or not denied the facts during their defense, or their involvement depending on whether they came to steal one or more from Gisèle Pélicot. or that they had pornographic photos in their personal belongings. Thus, the accused who raped Gisèle Pélicot several times, those who held pornographic files and those who never admitted the rape during the trial received heavier sentences than the others.

Sentences ranging from 3 years in prison, 2 of which were suspended, to 15 years in prison, but are considered insufficient by the family of Gisèle Pélicot and the feminist demonstrators in front of the courthouse. Several lawyers also question the adequacy of the sentences through various media outlets.

12:01 – 44 accused are or will be imprisoned, 6 emerge free

Apart from Dominique Pélicot, the vast majority of the other 50 accused will return or go to prison. 41 of them will sleep in prison this evening, including 26 who will reach their cell for the first time this evening since they appeared free, the others were already imprisoned in pre-trial detention. 3 other defendants will be imprisoned later, within a maximum period of 4 months, since a deferred committal warrant was issued against them for health reasons.

This means that 6 defendants will emerge free from the Mazan trial despite their conviction. Two explanations for this: either the accused served the sentence handed down against them during their pre-trial detention, which means that their sentence is less than 5 years, or they were sentenced to 3 years in prison, including 1 year in prison which will be served under electronic bracelet. Indeed, a prison sentence of less than 2 years does not result in imprisonment.