Dominique Pelicot found guilty of aggravated rape
A five-judge jury found Dominique Pellicot guilty of the aggravated rape of Giselle Pellicot.
He was also convicted of producing and distributing photographs and images of Gisele Pellicot.
Dominic Pelicot was also found guilty of producing and distributing sexual images of his adult daughter Caroline and his son’s wife. This is followed by this sentence.
key events
In addition to Dominique Pellicot, 50 men were put on trial, including one man who did not rape Giselle Pellicot but abused himself repeatedly with the help of Dominique Pellicott wife.
More than 20 other suspects remain at large as investigators were unable to identify them before the mass trial began.
Prosecutors have requested sentences of 10 to 18 years in prison for the 49 defendants also charged with aggravated rape. One of the defendants is on the run and is being tried in absentia.
The other defendant – facing a lesser charge of indecent assault – faces up to four years in prison.
Reuters reports that courts have convicted at least 20 defendants of rape.
German daily Die Zeit today paid tribute to Gisele Pelicot on its cover, with a photo of her and the words “Merci” (thank you).
Some 165 media outlets, including 76 foreign media outlets, reportedly sought accreditation in the trial.
French television cameras outside the Avignon courthouse captured people gathered there – many of them supporters of Giselle Pellico and women’s rights activists – as they learned that Dominique Pellico had been found guilty of serious crimes. Cheers at the conviction of Gisele Pellico for raping.
Dominique Pelicot found guilty of aggravated rape
A five-judge jury found Dominique Pellicot guilty of the aggravated rape of Giselle Pellicot.
He was also convicted of producing and distributing photographs and images of Gisele Pellicot.
Dominic Pelicot was also found guilty of producing and distributing sexual images of his adult daughter Caroline and his son’s wife. This is followed by this sentence.
Ahead of sentencing, the men charged alongside Dominic Pellicott were given a chance to make final statements on Monday. About half simply said “nothing to add.”
However, about 15 of them asked Gisele Pellicot for forgiveness.
“The rape I suffered was literally your body,” Cedric G., 51, said.
“I apologize to Mrs. Pellicott, I regret this and ask for her forgiveness,” declared Romain V., 63, who responded six times to Dominique Pellicott’s online comments One of four defendants in an invitation issued on.
Another defendant, Jerome V., 46, who visited Pellicott’s home six times, said he would not appeal “whatever sentence” he is sentenced to this weekend “out of necessity.” Respect for the victim so that she does not appeal “. No need to endure “new trials.” Prosecutors asked for a 16-year prison sentence.
Who is the man accused of raping and assaulting Gisele Pellicot?
A total of 51 men are on trial in Avignon, accused of rape and assault alongside Dominique Pellicot. They had little in common; their ages ranged from 26 to 74, some had children and some had been convicted of other crimes.
Their ranks include a nurse, a journalist, a prison warden, a parliamentarian, a soldier, truck drivers and farm workers.
Here’s more about the man expected to be sentenced today:
Angelique Christafis
Gisele Pellicot’s children David (sales manager), Caroline (communications manager) and Florian (actor) arrived at court to hear the verdict with her.
Dominique Pelicot – described by his family as the worst The sexual predator in France’s recent history – called himself a family man. He enjoyed Sunday bike rides in the French countryside, took his son and grandson to football matches, and was great at celebrating birthdays.
“My parents had a knack for organizing surprise birthday parties for us,” said his eldest son, David. “All our friends would be there, and my friends would say how lucky I was to have the dad I had. At those parties, everyone idolized him—my friends saw him as a role model. He and my friends We danced together, he sat down to eat with my friends, and today those friends didn’t understand what was going on.
This article by Angelique Chrisafis delves into the tragic case that shocked the world:
Gisèle Pelicot appears in court
Angelique Christafis
Gisele Pellico arrived in court to loud applause. She wore a silk scarf, given to her in a show of solidarity by an Australian organization that works to raise awareness of sexual assault against older women.
Some photos taken this morning in Avignon, where Gisele’s supporters and women’s rights activists gathered outside the court ahead of the verdict:
“Giselle’s name will be remembered”
Since September, people have braved freezing temperatures, torrential rain and freezing winds to line up outside the Avignon courthouse to cheer for Gisele Pellicot.
Pellicott, 72, a former logistics manager and grandmother of seven, has become a feminist hero after insisting on a public trial to raise awareness of drug-induced rape and abuse. “It’s not about shaming us, it’s about shaming them,” she said.
Her courage helped inspire global conversations about sexual violence and sparked debate in France over whether the legal definition of rape should be expanded to include specific reference to consent.
My colleague Angelique Chrisafis published an article about Gisèle Pelicot’s extraordinary courage and resilience:
Angelique Christafis
Members of the public gathered outside the court before dawn to support Gisele Pellicot in her historic rape trial.
“Justice for Gisele,” shouted one women’s rights campaigner, holding up a sign saying the defendant should spend Christmas in jail.
“Thank you for your bravery, Giselle,” another sign read.
What verdict is expected?
The five-judge panel is ruling by secret ballot, with a majority needed to convict and sentence those found guilty.
They are expected to sentence Dominique Pelicot, a 72-year-old retired electrician and real estate agent, to up to 20 years in prison.
Prosecutor Laure Chabaud, who asked for the maximum sentence in his case, told the court: “Twenty years between the four walls of a prison. That is both a lot and not enough.
Among the 50 other men charged with him, most of whom deny the charges, the man accused of aggravated rape faces 10 to 18 years in prison, while one accused of sexual assault faces four years in prison. A man is on the run and is being tried in his absence.
My colleague Kim Willsher goes over what to expect today:
Sentence imminent in Pellicott rape case
good morning.
For the past three and a half months, all eyes have been on a court in Avignon, France, where 51 men faced trial in a harrowing mass rape.
At the center of the case is Dominique Pelicot, who admitted to regularly crushing sleeping pills and anti-anxiety drugs into his unsuspecting wife’s mashed potatoes, ice cream, coffee or beer and inviting dozens of A man arrived at the couple’s home.
His actions shocked people in France and around the world. But in an extraordinary move, his wife, Gisèle Pelicot, waived her anonymity and insisted that the trial be open to the media and the public. Her incredible bravery made her a feminist icon, and she is credited with breaking the stigma that often accompanies sexual violence.
This morning, the trial is expected to conclude with verdicts for 51 men. Please follow us as we bring you all the latest developments.