A court in France has sentenced Dominique Pelicot, the former husband of Gisèle Pelicot, to a 20-year prison term for drugging and raping her, as well as allowing other men to assault her while she was incapacitated. The horrifying abuse spanned nearly a decade, shocking the nation and raising awareness about the pervasive issue of rape culture. The sentence, which represents the harshest punishment permissible under French law, was delivered in Avignon, where the court found Pelicot guilty on all counts.
Judge Roger Arata instructed Pelicot to stand during the sentencing, which caused him to tremble and, ultimately, collapse into tears. One by one, the judge announced the verdicts for Pelicot and the additional 50 defendants involved in this case that has catalyzed national reflection on the prevalence of sexual violence in society. “You are therefore declared guilty of aggravated rape on the person of Mme. Gisèle Pelicot,” Arata stated while going through the list of names.
Gisèle Pelicot, now 72 years old, was present in the courtroom, often nodding in affirmation as the verdicts were read. The entire process took over an hour, during which time 50 men were accused, with only one being acquitted on different charges. The overwhelming majority of the accused faced convictions, leading to an emotional reaction from both supporters and family members who were observing the proceedings remotely.
Outside the courthouse, demonstrators gathered to monitor the trial updates, some applauding the results while carrying oranges as symbolic tokens for the defendants heading to prison. In his own testimony, Dominique Pelicot admitted to drugging his wife for years, thereby facilitating abuse from himself and other men he had met online while documenting the violence on video.
The ordeal faced by Gisèle Pelicot over those long years, which she had previously perceived as a normal marriage, has transformed her into a symbol of resilience and courage for feminists throughout the nation. The proceedings, lasting more than three months, elicited activism against sexual violence and prompted advocates to demand more stringent laws against such crimes.
While prosecutors sought severe penalties, including a maximum 20-year sentence for Pelicot and a range between 10 to 18 years for the others involved, the court’s decisions often fell short of these expectations, with many receiving sentences less than 10 years. The accusations described a troubling pattern of drugging and abuse that transpired in the couple’s retirement home and elsewhere, as Pelicot recounted how he mixed tranquilizers into his wife’s meals and drinks, leaving her unable to resist or comprehend the nature of the attacks.
One defendant pled guilty for a separate incident involving drugging and raping his wife with Pelicot’s involvement, showcasing the far-reaching impact of these crimes. The judges rendered their decisions through a secret ballot, with most agreeing on the convictions and penalties.
Women’s rights advocates viewed the trial as a critical moment in the ongoing effort against rape culture and the misuse of drugs in sexual violence. The bravery demonstrated by Gisèle Pelicot, particularly her choice to forgo anonymity during the trial, has sparked discussions across the country about protecting women and examining the responsibilities of men in such matters.
“I’ve seen men engaging with women in conversations they hadn’t before,” shared Fanny Foures, a member of the feminist group Les Amazones, as she participated in displaying supportive messages for Gisèle around Avignon. She noted a growing acknowledgment among women about past abuses they had experienced, as well as a newfound accountability among men regarding their actions or inaction.
A striking banner hung by advocates near the courthouse read, “MERCI GISELE,” expressing gratitude to Gisèle for her courageous stance. The police initially became aware of Dominique Pelicot’s actions in September 2020 when he was caught filming women without their consent in a supermarket. A subsequent investigation uncovered a vast archive of recordings, accumulating over 20,000 images and videos categorically labeled to indicate abuse.
With such extensive evidence available, investigators were led to other defendants linked to these horrific events. Although some individuals, including Pelicot, admitted their guilt, many of the others denied intentional wrongdoing, sparking significant discourse around the definition of consent and whether reform is necessary within French legal frameworks surrounding rape. Some defendants claimed that the husband’s consent extended to his wife, while others attempted to rationalize their actions as part of consensual experimentation gone wrong.