Dominique Pelicot was “found guilty” of the aggravated rapes against his ex-wife Gisèle Pelicot, in the Mazan rape trial, which ends today in Avignon and sentenced to 20 years. Fifty-one defendants, accused of raping the woman who had been drugged by her husband for 10 years. Sentences could go up to a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Ten years of rape
The tragic story that originated in the deep south of France, then went around the world. Gisèle Pelicot, a woman now in her seventies, was raped for 10 years by dozens and dozens of men, 50 of whom (between 26 and 74 years old) appear as defendants in the trial which is nearing its conclusion. The first of the prosecution’s requests, 20 years, the maximum, was requested for the husband of the woman who for a decade drugged, raped and had his wife raped by dozens of men recruited on the Internet.
The banner: “Thank you Gisèle”
“Merci Gisèle”, ”Thank you Gisèle”: this is the banner that appeared this morning in front of the Palace of Justice in Avignon in view of the verdict in the Mazan rape trial. Gisèle Pelicot, who has become a symbol of dignity and courage as well as a feminist icon, arrived on site shortly after 9 am to witness the sentences against the 51 men accused of raping her, including her husband Dominique. ”Gisèle, Gisèle,” chanted the crowd who came to support her, applauding as she arrived in court. Among the 50 accused of sexual violence, only fifteen expressed apologies towards Gisèle, whose story has been seen around the world since the start of the trial in September.
