After 64 days of hearings and fifteen weeks since the opening of the trial in Avignon on September 2, the time for the decision has arrived. The public prosecutor requested sentences of 10 to 20 years in prison for the 50 men accused of rape, and four years for the man accused of aggravated sexual assault. Around thirty defendants pleaded for acquittal and hope to emerge free from the court.
The time of the verdict has arrived at the Avignon judicial court, where the five magistrates of the criminal court, who have been deliberating since Monday, December 16, are rendering their decision from 9:30 a.m. this Thursday, December 10 for the 51 men accused of rape aggravated and sexual assault committed over ten years at the home of Dominique and Gisèle Pelicot, in Mazan, near Carpentras.
All of them face heavy prison sentences, since the public prosecutor’s office has requested ten to twenty years of imprisonment against them.
Follow live the end of this historic and extraordinary trial, which Free Midday has been telling you since day one.
– 9 a.m.: “Thank you Gisèle”, in front of the Avignon court
MIDI LIBRE – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH
A new and huge banner appeared overnight in front of the Avignon judicial court, proclaiming “Thank you Gisèle”. The presence of similar banners had been denounced by defense lawyers during the trial, some demanding “20 years for all”, and the Avignon town hall had decided to remove them.
– 8:45 a.m.: the free accused are in the courtroom
The accused who appear free are now in the courtroom, where many police officers have also been deployed. Several lawyers are also already there. The room will continue to fill up in the next few minutes.
Caroline, Florian and David Pelicot, the three children of Dominique and Gisèle Pelicot, who are civil parties, also arrived in court.
– 8:30 a.m.: The first accused arrive
MIDI LIBRE – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH
Little by little the participants in the trial begin to arrive. In particular the accused who appear free, there are around thirty in this case. And even if many pleaded for acquittal, all prepared for a decision of guilt, synonymous with incarceration. So they arrive at court with the bag they prepared to leave for detention.
MIDI LIBRE – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH
– 8 a.m.: the courthouse is open
The Avignon court is now open, and the dozens of journalists gathered since 6:30 this morning in front of the building were able to begin entering one after the other. The public is currently not admitted. Four broadcast rooms were opened to allow the 190 media following the trial, almost half of which are foreign, to follow the delivery of the verdict, on the last day of this historic trial. The main room is currently empty.
Numerous collages were carried out during the night around the building, as has been the case since the trial opened on September 2.
FREE NOON – François Barrère
FREE NOON – François Barrère
FREE NOON – François Barrère
