AVIGNON, France — A significant rape trial in France has entered a critical stage, as prosecutors outlined the charges and recommended sentences for numerous men involved in the case against Gisèle Pelicot. This trial has been unfolding for nearly three months, focusing on the distressing allegations that Ms. Pelicot was raped while under the influence of drugs administered by her husband.

In the southern city of Avignon, the trial is now nearing its conclusion, with prosecutors detailing the verdicts they seek for the 51 accused individuals. On Monday, attention was drawn to Dominique Pelicot, Gisèle’s husband of nearly five decades. He has admitted to drugging her over the years by mixing sedatives into her meals and beverages, actions that facilitated his own assaults and allowed him to orchestrate the rape of his wife by numerous other men.

Prosecutor Laure Chabaud called for the maximum sentence of 20 years for aggravated rape against the 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot. The accused man, visibly subdued, kept his gaze fixed to the floor while gripping the handle of his cane as the prosecutor addressed the court. She emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Twenty years behind bars is indeed a long time, yet it may not suffice.”

The court is anticipated to announce its final judgments before December 20, bringing a close to a harrowing chapter in this case that has garnered widespread attention and dismay.