Ms. Pelicot arrived in court on December 19
On December 19, a court in France sentenced Mr. Dominique Pelicot (72 years old) to 20 years in prison for raping and organizing the gang rape of his now divorced wife, Gisele Pelicot.
Previously, the court in the city of Avignon convicted Mr. Pelicot in a trial that lasted more than 3 months for the incident that shocked France.
The 50 co-defendants in the case were also sentenced by the court without parole, with specific sentences to be announced by the court soon. Among them were many people whom Mr. Pelicot met online and enticed to participate in gang rape of his wife.
Tensions were evident in the courtroom, where there was a heavy police presence. Many defendants come to court with their luggage ready to go to jail.
“Mr. Pelicot, you are convicted of the serious rape of Gisele Pelicot,” the judge presiding over the criminal trial in Avignon Roger Arata announced.
The judge made clear that Mr. Pelicot would not be eligible for parole until he had served two-thirds of his sentence.
Previously, Mr. Pelicot admitted to drugging his wife so that he and others could rape her. The incident lasted for nearly a decade.
Ms. Pelicot (72 years old) became a feminist hero because she courageously stood up to give up her right to hold a closed trial and in court faced the people who committed the crime against her.
Among the accomplices, men aged 27-74 years old, there was one who did not rape Ms. Pelicot but raped his wife, with Mr. Pelicot’s help.
On November 25, prosecutors recommended the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for Mr. Pelicot.
The prosecution requested sentences of 10-18 years in prison for 49 defendants also charged with serious rape, including one who is on the run and tried in absentia. The remaining defendant faces charges of groping and could be sentenced to 4 years in prison. There are 32 defendants on bail before trial.
Earlier on December 19, Ms. Pelicot arrived at the courthouse and smiled and waved to supporters and feminist activists who were shouting her name and slogans like “justice for Ms. Gisele”.
Ms. Pelicot’s children, David, Caroline and Florian, arrived half an hour early, entering the courtroom with a group of men accused of raping their mother.
“We brought our belongings to prison,” one of the group of men said, pointing to sports bags on the ground.
Ms. Pelicot’s image appeared on the front pages of many major newspapers in France on December 19. Newspaper Liberation headlined “A verdict for the future”, newspaper L’Humanite Posted the title “Thank you ma’am”, and the paper remained La Provenance refers to the “moment of truth”.
