A French male has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging his wife and facilitating her sexual assault by multiple men over a decade.
According to AFP and other sources, on Thursday, a criminal court in Avignon, southern France, found Dominique Pelicot, 72, guilty of drugging his ex-wife Gisèle, 72, and enabling dozens of men to assault her sexually.
The court handed down prison sentences ranging from 3 to 15 years to the 49 men involved in the assault, with charges including sexual assault and attempted sexual assault. Two of them received partially suspended sentences. Jean-Pierre Maréchal, who mimicked Pelicot’s methods by drugging his wife and allowing Pelicot to assault her, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Prosecutors had previously sought 20 years for Pelicot and 4 to 18 years for the other 50 defendants.
Gisèle The victim, Gisèle, observed the verdict from the gallery. As she entered the courtroom, supporters applauded and said, “Thank you, Gisèle.” Stating that the perpetrators should be ashamed, she advocated for a public trial and confronted her attackers in court, garnering support from many worldwide.
Pelicot was charged with secretly administering sedatives to Gisèle’s drinks from July 2011 to October 2020, rendering her unconscious and recruiting men online to have sex with her.
The men who responded to Pelicot’s invitations to assault Gisèle were prosecuted, with trials beginning in September. They ranged in age from 22 to 74 and held diverse occupations, including truck drivers, soldiers, firefighters, farmers, and journalists. Authorities have identified 72 perpetrators, though many remain unidentified.
Following the verdict, Gisèle told reporters, “I respect the court’s decision.” In a subsequent statement, she remarked, “This trial was an incredibly challenging ordeal,” but added, “When I opened the door to the trial, I hoped society would bear witness to the discussions taking place, and I have never regretted that decision.”
She continued, “I now trust in our ability to create a better future where both men and women can live with mutual respect and understanding.” Meanwhile, Pelicot and Ghislaine’s three children expressed disappointment with the sentence’s leniency.
