Dominique Pelicot, 72, was convicted of drugging and repeatedly raping his wife while recruiting strangers online to do the same. The assaults, often filmed, occurred in the couple’s home in Mazan, Provence, and elsewhere.
Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old grandmother and survivor of nearly a decade of abuse, sat in a French courtroom on Thursday as the Avignon court declared her ex-husband and dozens of other men guilty of aggravated rape and other charges.
Judge Roger Arata, delivering the verdicts, announced, “You are therefore declared guilty of aggravated rape on the person of Mme. Gisèle Pelicot,” as he worked through the list of 51 defendants, Associated Press reports.
Dominique Pelicot, 72, was convicted of drugging and repeatedly raping his wife while recruiting strangers online to do the same. The assaults, often filmed, occurred in the couple’s home in Mazan, Provence, and elsewhere.
Prosecutors requested the maximum 20-year sentence for Dominique, alongside penalties ranging from 10 to 18 years for other defendants.
A four-year sentence was also sought for a man convicted of aggravated sexual assault.
He was sentenced to the maximum term of 20 years jail for committing and orchestrating the mass rapes of his now former wife Gisele Pelicot with dozens of strangers he recruited online.
The court’s decision comes after a gruelling three-month trial, which campaigners hope will be a turning point in France’s fight against sexual violence.
Gisèle’s courage in waiving her anonymity and pushing for open hearings, even as harrowing video evidence was presented, has turned her into a symbol of resilience and a feminist hero.
Dominique admitted in court that he had drugged his wife with tranquilizers hidden in her food and drink, rendering her unconscious for hours while he and others assaulted her.
One defendant was also convicted of drugging and raping his own wife with Dominique’s assistance, adding another layer of depravity to the case.
The crimes first came to light in September 2020, when Dominique was caught filming up women’s skirts at a supermarket. Police investigations uncovered a vast collection of evidence — over 20,000 photos and videos stored on hard drives and organised into folders labelled “abuse” and “her rapists.”
These files helped identify 72 abusers, though not all could be charged.
Despite video evidence, several defendants denied their guilt, claiming they were misled by Dominique into believing the acts were consensual. Others argued that his consent extended to his wife.
The case has sparked debate in France about expanding the legal definition of rape to explicitly address consent.
The trial has also prompted wider discussions about protecting women and the role men must play in addressing rape culture. “
Men are starting to talk to women — their girlfriends, mothers and friends — in ways they hadn’t before,” said Fanny Foures of the feminist group Les Amazones. “Some women are realising, maybe for the first time, that their ex-husbands violated them.”
Gisèle’s bravery inspired campaigners, who hung banners reading “MERCI GISELE” outside the courthouse. Her story has ignited national conversations on accountability and the pervasive use of drugs in sexual violence cases.
The judges’ decision was reached by secret ballot, requiring a majority vote for each conviction and sentence. Sentencing is expected soon, with activists calling for exemplary punishments to set a precedent in combating sexual violence in France.
Sahara Reporters
