Gisèle Pelicot’s Former Husband Sentenced to 20 Years in Extensive Rape Case

The former husband of French rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot received a 20-year prison sentence for drugging and raping her, as well as orchestrating the abuse by dozens of other individuals over a period spanning almost ten years. Dominique Pelicot, aged 72, was convicted on all counts by a judge in Avignon, located in southern France. He wept during the court proceedings when he was handed the maximum possible sentence. He stood trial alongside 50 additional men, each of whom was convicted of at least one charge, though their respective prison sentences were shorter than those sought by the prosecution. Ms. Pelicot and her children displayed no emotion as the verdicts were announced, sometimes looking at the defendants and leaning their heads against the wall. These convictions concluded France’s most extensive rape trial to date, a three-month process that garnered shock both nationally and internationally. On Thursday morning, law enforcement closed the street across from the courthouse to manage the hundreds of individuals who gathered to show solidarity with Ms. Pelicot. A substantial banner proclaiming “Thank you Gisèle” was displayed on a wall opposite the entrance. Beneath it, members of the public repeatedly chanted “rapist, we see you” as the defendants gradually entered prior to the trial. Addressing the media outside the court after the verdicts, Ms. Pelicot described the trial as a “very difficult ordeal.” Her grandson, in his late teens, stood beside her for the first time, his arm draped over her shoulder. Her voice wavered only once when she stated she “never regretted” her choice to publicize the trial “so society could see what was happening.” The 72-year-old’s choice to forgo her inherent right to anonymity was notably uncommon. She was present for nearly every day of the proceedings, sharing the courtroom with her husband of five decades, from whom she is now divorced. Both French and international media outlets tracked the case with increasing attention, and hundreds of reporters were in attendance at the court on Thursday. While Ms. Pelicot spoke, hundreds of individuals chanted her name and performed feminist songs. She expressed her “profound” gratitude to her supporters and conveyed her “confidence” in the prospect of a “better future” where men and women can coexist in “mutual respect.” Dominique Pelicot, Ms. Pelicot’s former husband, who had previously admitted to his offenses, was convicted of aggravated rape. Furthermore, he was found guilty of the attempted aggravated rape of the spouse of one of his co-defendants, Jean-Pierre Maréchal. Maréchal, characterized as Dominique’s “disciple” for having drugged and raped his own wife over several years and inviting Dominique to participate, received a 12-year prison sentence. Dominique Pelicot was additionally convicted of capturing indecent images of his daughter, Caroline Darian, and his daughters-in-law, Aurore and Celine. Caroline, who attended court on Thursday, had previously testified during the trial that she felt like the “forgotten victim” because, unlike her mother’s situation, no official record existed of the abuse she believes she endured. Dominique denied drugging and abusing his daughter. In November, she yelled at him in court, “I will never come see you and you will die alone like a dog.” Following the delivery of the verdicts, Dominique Pelicot’s attorney stated that her client was “somewhat dazed” by his sentence and would evaluate the possibility of an appeal. He has a 10-day period to make this decision. Dominique Pelicot was among 50 other men who faced charges; 46 of these individuals were convicted of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault. A number of them have already served years in prison, having been apprehended during the initial police investigation in 2021, and consequently, they are expected to be released relatively soon. The majority of the men on trial asserted that their actions did not constitute rape. They contended that they did not comprehend Ms. Pelicot was unconscious and, as a result, did not “know” they were raping her. This particular argument ignited a national debate concerning France’s legal definition of rape. The prison sentences for the defendants varied from three to 15 years. In a comment provided to the AFP news agency, the Pelicot children expressed their “disappointed” with the “low sentences.” Commencing in 2011 and continuing for nearly a decade, Dominique Pelicot administered drugs to his now ex-wife, raped her, and enlisted dozens of men via online platforms to engage in sexual acts with her while she was unconscious. His offenses came to light in 2020, when law enforcement apprehended him on an unrelated charge of filming women under their skirts in a supermarket. Authorities confiscated his electronic devices and discovered thousands of videos on his laptop, containing evidence of approximately 200 rapes. Investigators utilized these videos to locate his co-defendants, though they could not identify an additional 21 men. Dominique Pelicot confessed to the charges in 2020. The proceedings initiated a debate regarding the potential inclusion of consent within France’s legal definition of rape, mirroring practices in other European nations. In France, rape is presently defined as “any act of sexual penetration committed against another person by violence, constraint, threat or surprise,” which necessitates prosecutors demonstrating intent to rape. Numerous defendants asserted they were unaware Ms. Pelicot had not consented, alleging they were “tricked” by Dominique Pelicot and thought they were visiting the couple’s residence for a threesome based on a fantasy that the woman would be asleep. The trial additionally highlighted the matter of chemical submission, also known as drug-induced sexual assault. The majority of the 50 men originated from communities within a 50km (30 mile) radius of Mazan, the Pelicots’ home village. Among them were firefighters, lorry drivers, soldiers, a journalist, and a DJ, and they were characterized by defense attorneys as “ordinary people,” leading to their moniker Monsieur-Tout-Le-Monde (Mr Everyman). The trial also drew national attention to sexual violence against women in France, with many commending Ms. Pelicot for her courage in making the case public. She had previously stated her resolve to make “shame change sides” from the victim to the perpetrator. This expression has been reiterated by her advocates. However, Ms. Pelicot has clarified that beneath her outward display of strength “lies a field of ruins,” and despite the broad commendation for her actions, she views herself as an unwilling hero. Her lawyer, Stéphane Babonneau, informed the BBC, “She keeps repeating, ‘I am normal’ – she does not want to be considered as an icon.” He added, “Women generally have a strength in them that they can’t even imagine and that they have to trust themselves. That’s her message.” For those impacted by the subjects discussed in this report, assistance and support are accessible through the BBC Action Line. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.