Headline
In a notable French trial, Gisele Pelicot's former spouse and fifty other men were convicted for their involvement in a mass rape case.
Dominique Pelico, who openly admitted to drugging his ex-wife Giselle multiple times over a decade and inviting internet strangers to rape her while she was unconscious, was handed a 20-year prison sentence by a French court. Additionally, numerous other men also received prison terms in a groundbreaking mass rape case that left France stunned.
Details
Dominique Pelico was given the maximum penalty of 20 years after being found guilty of aggravated rape against Giselle, attempting to rape another man's wife in the same case, and distributing unauthorized images of his daughter Caroline, daughter-in-law Aurore, and daughter-in-law Celine.
According to Le Monde, the 72-year-old convict must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence and his name will be added to France’s national sex offender registry.
The court also convicted all 50 other suspects and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from 15 to 3 years.
The court found Pelico and 46 other defendants guilty of rape, 2 of attempted rape, and 2 of sexual assault.
One of the accused, Jean-Pierre Marechal, who confessed to following Pelico's actions by drugging his own wife for 5 years and inviting Pelico to rape her, was sentenced to 12 years.
The defendants have 10 days to contest the verdict, and Pelico's lawyer mentioned they are considering an appeal.
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Significant Quote
In a statement on X, the President of the French National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, expressed gratitude to Gisèle Pelicot: “Thank you for your bravery, Gisèle Pelicot. Through you, the voices of countless victims are being heard today, the shame is shifting sides, and the taboo is being shattered. Thanks to you, the world is not the same anymore.”
Background Information
Gisele and the police first became aware of Dominique's behavior in 2020 when he was caught by a shopping mall security guard in Paris spying on women under their skirts. Upon his arrest, police discovered a collection of 20,000 videos and photos of rape and abuse aimed at his wife on his computer. These materials allowed authorities to identify numerous other individuals who participated in the sexual assaults. The assaults occurred between 2011 and 2020 at the Pelicos' home in Mazan, southeastern France.
Additional Information
Pelico, who is now divorced, chose to make the trial public by waiving her right to anonymity (granted to victims of sexual assault in France). As a result, she became a feminist icon in the country, with her story gaining widespread media coverage and sparking demonstrations in her support. On the day of her court appearance, she was welcomed with cheers from her supporters and a large banner reading “MERCI GISELE” was displayed outside the court building.
Gisele Pelicot's bravery in speaking out against her ex-husband Dominique Pelico's actions led other victims to come forward, as this case was heard in the same French court. Gisele's mother, also named Gisele, has been a steadfast supporter throughout this ordeal, attending court hearings and advocating for her daughter's rights.
