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. The man was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence.
“Mr. Pelicot, you are found guilty of aggravated rape on the person of Gisèle Pelicot,” declared the president of the Vaucluse criminal court, Roger Arata.
Dominique Pelicot, 72 years old, stood up and listened to the judge attentively, but without expressing particular emotions. He is also found guilty of collecting images of his wife and daughter without their knowledge. The whole family was present at the time of the sentencing.
The 50 co-defendants were also all found guilty, most of them for the crime of “aggravated rape in a meeting and administration” of drugs to Gisèle Pelicot. The sentences imposed so far by the Avignon court range from 3 to 13 years in prison. For example, Jean-Pierre M. is sentenced to 12 years in prison. Jacques C. to 5 years of which 3 on parole. Nine years for Christian L., 8 for Cyrille D. Most of the defendants sentenced today will also be registered in the Fijais, a French database that includes perpetrators of sexual or violent crimes.
Thank you Gisèle
Before the sentence, a banner reading “Merci Gisèle”, “Thank you Gisèle”, appeared in front of the Palace of Justice in Avignon, France. Gisèle Pelicot, the victim drugged and raped for years by her husband and dozens of men summoned by him via the internet, has become a symbol of dignity and courage as well as a feminist icon.
“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.
