Pelicot case, 20 years in prison for the ex-husband who drugged her and made her rape her for a decade. 50 men who raped her were also convicted

From 2011 to 2020 Pelicot drugged his wife to have her raped by men lured online and filmed the violence. For many of them the sentences are lower than the magistrates’ requests

Domininque Pelicot was sentenced to maximum sentence: 20 years in prison for the aggravated rapes of his wife Gisèle. The Avignon court found the man guilty ten years (from 2011 to 2020) has drugged his wife, causing her to be raped by dozens of other men met online, filming the meetings, as he himself admitted in September 2024 in front of the judges. Pelicot was found guilty of having produced and distributed pornographic images – as well as Gisèle – also of his daughter Carolina and his children’s wives. According to what was declared by the man’s lawyer Béatrice Zavarro, Pelicot is considering appealing and has ten days to do so.

The sentences of the 51 rapists

There were a total of 51 defendants, including Pelicot. They were all found guilty by the judges. Of the 50 men, 46 were for aggravated rape, two for attempted rape and two for sexual assault, reports the Guardian. Among those convicted of rape, there is a man who subjected his wife to the same torture suffered by Gisèle, allowing her to be raped by Dominique Pelicot after drugging her. The sentence imposed on him is 12 years. The others received sentences ranging from 3 to 15 years, of which two were suspended and four were partially suspended. The years inflicted are in many cases less than those requested by the prosecutor’s office. Only 18 defendants had pleaded guilty. The others defended themselves by claiming that they did not know that Gisèle Pelicot was unaware of everything and had not given her consent. They also have ten days to appeal the decision.

Thank you Gisèle

Merci Gisèle can be read on the banners of the dozens of people who gathered in front of the courthouse in Avignon on the occasion of the verdict. The now 72-year-old woman has become an icon of feminism, a symbol of courage and dignity. Admired for fighting rape culture against her husband. Arriving in the courtroom around 9 am, she was applauded as she passed while a chorus arose from the crowd chanting her name. «This trial – declared the progressive French MEP Manon Aubry – will forever be remembered as a key moment in the fight against rape culture». But outside the courthouse in Avignon there were also voices of protest from those who believe the verdict given to the rapists was too lenient.

Cover image: EPA / Guillaume Horcajuelo