Pelicot Mass Rape Trial Concludes with 51 Guilty Verdicts

A distressing and lengthy trial concerning mass rape and drugging concluded in France on Thursday, resulting in Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men being found guilty of sexually assaulting his former wife, Gisèle Pelicot.

Dominique Pelicot, aged 72, who orchestrated the assaults by recruiting numerous individuals to violate Gisèle while she was incapacitated, received a 20-year prison sentence, the maximum allowed for aggravated rape. Among the other defendants, 48 were convicted of aggravated rape, while two faced charges of sexual assault.

This trial has sent shockwaves throughout France, prompting a national introspection regarding a culture plagued by deep-rooted misogyny and systemic sexual violence. It has inspired women across the country to call for significant changes in how gender-based violence is addressed.

Gisèle Pelicot made the bold choice to waive her anonymity, allowing the trial to be public—a decision many have hailed as heroic. Over several months, she confronted her abusers in court, exposing the brutalities she suffered at the hands of her husband and numerous other assailants for over a decade.

Under French law, Gisèle had the option to keep the proceedings private but chose transparency in hopes of empowering other women to come forward and demonstrating that victims of sexual violence should not feel ashamed.

After the verdicts were delivered in Avignon, southern France, Gisèle expressed her solidarity with fellow survivors of sexual assault.

“I am thinking of all the unrecognized victims of stories that often unfold in shadows. I want you to know we share the same fight,” she stated.

Gisèle also emphasized that she has “never regretted” her decision to go public, noting that messages from supporters have provided her with the “strength” to continue.

While Dominique Pelicot received a 20-year sentence for his crimes, others who frequented the Pelicot household received sentences of 15 years and 13 years respectively. Some defendants received lighter sentences than anticipated by prosecutors, with a few even receiving suspended sentences.

The courtroom reacted with disbelief when Jacques C was given a five-year suspended sentence. Nedeljka Macan, a local resident from Mazan where the crimes occurred, described these sentences as an “insult.”

A source close to the case indicated that judges aimed to differentiate between the severity of offenses through varying sentences. They hoped this approach would reduce potential appeals.

Dominique Pelicot’s attorney, Beatrice Zavarro, mentioned that they are contemplating an appeal but have yet to reach a decision. She argued that her client has become a scapegoat for this trial.

Evidence revealed Dominique’s central role in facilitating these heinous acts. He used an online chatroom on a now-defunct dating site to recruit men for the assaults over several years. He shared images of an unconscious Gisèle before coordinating meetings with his accomplices via Skype and text messages.

Gisèle testified that she was entirely unaware of her husband’s actions. The repeated drugging and abuse took a toll on her health; during medical visits where she reported memory loss and pelvic pain, Dominique accompanied her.

The extent of Dominique's crimes came to light after his arrest in September 2020 for filming upskirt videos of women in a supermarket. He received an eight-month suspended sentence for this offense.

During the investigation into his upskirting activities, authorities seized his devices and discovered hundreds of images and videos depicting Gisèle being assaulted, leading to one of France's most notorious sexual offense cases in recent history.

At one point during the trial, Gisèle confronted her attackers directly. Many claimed they believed consent from a husband was sufficient.

“Rape is rape,” she stated during her testimony. “When you walk into a bedroom and see a motionless body, at what point do you decide not to react…why did you not leave immediately to report it to the police?”

She expressed that she would never forgive her ex-husband.

Although the trial has concluded, its aftermath has left many feeling frustrated and disillusioned, including Dominique and Gisèle's children. They argue that these sentences do not adequately reflect the severity of their parents' crimes and highlight France's inadequate response to sexual violence.

Olympe Desanges, a women's rights advocate, expressed disappointment with the verdicts: “As a woman and as a feminist, I feel disappointed and humiliated by these verdicts.”

Sarah McGrath, CEO of Women for Women France, criticized France's justice system as "notorious" for its leniency towards such cases. She noted that only about 10% of rape victims report their experiences to authorities, with only 1-4% resulting in convictions.