“Thank you Gisèle Pélicot”, says Chancellor Olaf Scholz
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed “courage” of Gisèle Pélicot, in the serial rape trial at the end of which her husband and 50 co-defendants were convicted Thursday in France, because “shame must change sides” in this type of case.
“Shame must change sides. Thank you, Gisèle #Pelicot! With courage, you emerged from anonymity to fight for justice. You gave a strong voice to women around the world. Shame is always on the side of the aggressor”wrote Olaf Scholz on the social network
1 p.m
Gisèle Pelicot: “I think first of my children”
Gisèle Pelicot left the courtroom and spoke in front of dozens of journalists “with deep emotion”. The applicant, who admitted that this trial had been “a very difficult test”, “think first of [ses] children, David Caroline and Florian and [ses] small children”. Gisèle Pelicot declared that she had led this fight “for them, because they are the future” as well as for his daughters-in-law Aurore and Céline.
Gisèle Pélicot thinks “to all the other families affected by this tragedy” as well as to “unrecognized victims, whose stories often remain in the shadows”. “I want you to know that we share the same fight”, said the applicant.
Gisèle Pelicot expressed “his deepest gratitude to all those who [l’]supported throughout this ordeal”. She says she was “upset” by these testimonies from which she “drawn the strength to face these long days in court”.
Gisèle Pelicot also thanked the Victim Assistance Association and expressed her gratitude to the journalists who covered the case.
11h49
Prison for whom? And when?
Not all of the 51 men sentenced will sleep in prison tonight.
- 41 are incarcerated immediately.
- 3 will be incarcerated in the coming weeks. Their state of health is not compatible with immediate incarceration.
- 6 are free, because the court sentenced them to sentences covered by pre-trial detention and can serve a year under an electronic bracelet.
- 1 has been on the run for several years.
11h44
Disappointment for the Pelicot children
Gisèle Pelicot’s children said to themselves “disappointed“the sentences imposed on the 51 accused in the Mazan rape trial, which range from 3 to 20 years of criminal imprisonment, considering them too much”basses“.
“Children are disappointed with these low sentences“, commented a member of the Pelicot family, who asked to remain anonymous. None of the family members wanted to speak to Dominique Pelicot after his conviction.
11h21
Strong reactions outside
Many people are very angry with the sentences announced by the courts, which they consider to be too weak. Many cries and chants to denounce them were heard. “Shame on justice“, protesters chanted in front of the court. Some people also shed tears.
Many reactions are collected by the French media and it is anger and incomprehension that dominate. The people present are very upset against the sentences which they consider far too low in relation to the seriousness of the facts.
11:12 a.m.
Will Dominique Pelicot appeal?
Dominique Pelicot’s lawyer, Me Béatrice Zavarro, spoke to the press as she left the courtroom. “Mr Pelicot has taken note of this decision and we will take advantage of the 10 days available to us to find out if we will lodge an appeal. There is no decision made at the moment.”
“He is somewhat dazed by the security period that was imposed on him“, adds the lawyer.
10h56
No comments
Caroline, Gisèle Pelicot’s daughter, left the courtroom without comment. Gisèle Pelicot went out in turn towards a rest room to recover from her emotions.
10h53
Various penalties
The court handed down sentences of 3 years, 2 of which were suspended, to 20 years in prison.
10h51
The hearing is over
The president of the court has finished announcing the sentences. The meeting is adjourned. Fearing excesses, the police positioned themselves inside and outside the court.
10h42
Relatives of the accused react
When the sentences were announced, some relatives of the accused left the room from which they were watching the trial. Very touched, at least five people left crying.
10h37
An accused will walk free
A 63-year-old defendant, sentenced to 5 years in prison including two prison terms, will emerge free from the trial. He has already been in pre-trial detention which covers these years.
10h32
The tears of Dominique Pelicot
After the announcement of his sentence (20 years in prison), Dominique Pelicot began to cry, report our colleagues from BFMTV.
10h31
Sentences less severe than requested
BFMTV affirms that, for the moment, all the sentences handed down are below the requisitions. The president of the court is still announcing the sentences.
10h24
Penalties below requisitions
If Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to the maximum sentence, this is not the case for the other accused. Some examples are cited by the French press such as Lionel R., sentenced to 8 years when 14 years were required by the attorneys general. Christian L, received 9 years instead of the required 14 years.
10h20
All guilty
All the accused in the Mazan rape trial were found guilty, no acquittals.
10h18
Dominique Pelicot is sentenced to 20 years in prison
The president of the court announced the sentence of Dominique Pelicot: the 72-year-old man receives 20 years in prison. This is the maximum penalty.
In a special deliberation, the court sets the duration of the security period at two-thirds. At the end of the sentence, a reassessment of his situation will be carried out. He will also be registered in the national sex offender file.
10:05 a.m
Words from the president of the court
“Mr. Pelicot, you are found guilty of aggravated rape against the person of Gisèle Pelicot“, declared the president of the Vaucluse criminal court, Roger Arata, specifying that his sentence will be announced to him a little later in the morning devoted to the verdict of this trial which has become a symbol of the fight against violence against women.
Dominique Pelicot, 72, stood up and listened to the president attentively but without expressing any particular emotion.
09h51
Dominique Pelicot found guilty
The court found Dominique Pelicot guilty of all the crimes charged. Namely, aggravated rape of Gisèle Pelicot, attempted rape and aggravated rape of the wife of a co-accused, but also the capture of images of a sexual nature concerning her daughter Caroline and her ex-daughters-in-law.
The sentence will be pronounced later.
09h46
Reading has started
The Vaucluse criminal court began reading the verdict at 9:30 a.m. Gisèle Pelicot arrived, greeted by a crowd of people who came to support her, and by a sea of journalists. 86 media from all over the world came for the occasion.
09h35
Gisèle Pelicot’s children arrive in court
Gisèle Pelicot’s children arrive at the Avignon courthouse, before the verdict in the historic Mazan rape trial.
09h30
Gisèle Pelicot arrives at the Avignon court
Gisèle Pelicot arrives at the Avignon courthouse before the verdict in the historic Mazan rape trial.
07h00
The Avignon court stormed by journalists from around the world
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