Ex-Husband of Gisèle Pelicot Sentenced to 20 Years in Mass Rape Case

Gisèle Pelicot’s former husband receives a 20-year prison sentence following a mass rape trial, highlighting the severity of the case and pursuit of justice.

Dominique Pelicot has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping his ex-wife, Gisèle. He also invited numerous strangers to abuse her over the course of nearly ten years.

The 72-year-old was convicted on all charges by a judge in Avignon, located in southern France. He wept in court upon receiving the maximum sentence.

He stood trial alongside 50 other men, all of whom were convicted on at least one charge. However, their prison sentences were shorter than what the prosecutors had sought.

Gisèle and her children appeared impassive as the verdicts were announced, occasionally casting glances at the defendants while leaning their heads against the wall.

The convictions mark the conclusion of France’s largest-ever rape trial, which has shaken both the nation and the world over a period of three months.

Standing outside the courthouse with her family after the verdicts were announced, 72-year-old Gisèle Pelicot described the trial as a “very difficult ordeal.”

However, she stated that she “never regretted” the decision to make the trial public so society could witness what was happening.

Gisèle Pelicot’s choice to forgo her automatic right to anonymity was quite uncommon, resulting in the trial being conducted openly before the public. The case attracted increasing attention from both French and international media, with hundreds of journalists attending court on Thursday.

Gisèle personally attended nearly every day of the trial, sitting in the same courtroom as her husband of 50 years, whom she has since divorced.

Gisèle also expressed her deep gratitude to her supporters and mentioned she is confident in a future where men and women can coexist with mutual respect.

In court on Thursday, Dominique Pelicot, who had previously admitted to his crimes, was convicted of aggravated rape.

He was also found guilty of the attempted aggravated rape of one of his co-accused’s wives, Jean-Pierre Marechal. Marechal, often referred to as Dominique’s “disciple” due to his history of drugging and raping his own wife for years and allowing Dominque to participate, received a 12-year prison sentence.

Dominique Pelicot was also convicted of capturing inappropriate images involving his daughter, Caroline Darian, as well as his daughters-in-law, Aurore and Celine.

Caroline, who appeared in court on Thursday, previously testified that she considered herself the “forgotten victim.” She believed this because there was no documented evidence of the abuse she alleges she suffered, unlike in her mother’s case. Dominique has denied any allegations of drugging and abusing his daughter.

Following the verdicts, Dominique’s lawyer stated that her client was “somewhat dazed” by his sentence and would contemplate an appeal. He has 10 days to make a decision.

Out of the 50 co-defendants, 46 were convicted of rape, two found guilty of attempted rape, and another two for sexual assault. Many have already served time in jail since their arrests during the initial police investigation in 2021 and are expected to be released relatively soon.

Most of the men on trial claimed that their actions did not constitute rape.

They claimed they were unaware that Gisèle Pelicot was unconscious, and thus did not “know” they were committing rape. This argument ignited a nationwide debate over the legal definition of rape in France.

Their prison sentences range from three to 15 years, which is less than what prosecutors had requested.

In a statement to the AFP news agency, the Pelicot children expressed their “disappointment” with what they described as “low sentences.”