15 out of 51. This is the number of defendants in the Mazan rape trial who took the opportunity to apologize to Gisèle Pelicot on Monday, during their last speech.
After Dominique Pelicot, who “saluted the courage” of his ex-wife, the other accused paraded at the microphone, in the detainees' box or at the stand for those appearing free. Half were limited to a simple “nothing to add”.
“I will regret it all my life”
But others expressed their regrets. “Sorry ma’am” (Didier S., 68 years old), “I would like to apologize again to Ms. Pelicot” (Patrick A., 60 years old), “I would like to reiterate my sincere apologies to the victim” (Mahdi D., 36 years old).
Others tried to explain their actions: “I will regret my actions all my life” (Mathieu D., 62 years old), “I am accused of not being empathetic, of being a monster” (Redouan E. , 55 years old) Some went further by addressing Gisèle Pelicot directly, like Cédric G., 51 years old: “it was indeed your body that I subjected this rape to”.
Or Jérôme V., 46 years old, who came six times to the Pelicot marital home, in Mazan (Vaucluse), who warned that “whatever the sentence” that will be imposed on him, he will not appeal, “out of respect for the victim, so that she does not have to relive a new trial. Against him, the prosecution requested sixteen years of criminal imprisonment.
Verdict Thursday
On the civil parties' bench, Gisèle Pelicot was alone, still stoic, on Monday. None of his three children had made the trip to hear their father's last words. And as is now a habit, she received a standing ovation from the public as she left the courtroom.
The verdict is scheduled for Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. A “theoretical” date which could be pushed back to Thursday afternoon or Friday, indicated the president of the departmental criminal court.
