In a historic and harrowing trial, French courts have sentenced Dominique Pelicot, 72, to 20 years in prison for aggravated rape and drugging his ex-wife, Gisele Pelicot.
The ruling is the culmination of a trial that also saw convictions for 50 other men charged with raping or assaulting Gisele over a period of years.
The trial, held in Avignon, exposed a systematic web of abuse against Gisele, who courageously faced each of her abusers as verdicts were read. The court found 46 men guilty of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault.
Over the years Dominique contacted various men online to take part in his sordid fantasies. Few men declined the offer of raping the drugged Ms Pelicot, but none sounded the alarm or made reports to the police at the time.
Gisele bravely chose to have the trial aired publicly – she said: ‘She could have opted for a closed trial, but that’s what her attackers would have wanted’
As the ringleader, Dominique Pelicot orchestrated the exploitation of his ex-wife, which spanned years. His conviction represents the heaviest sentence handed down in the trial, ensuring that he will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. During proceedings, his daughter confronted him in court, declaring, “You will die alone like a dog in jail.”
Dominique has also been accused of the rape and murder of a 23 year old estate agent in Paris in 1991, Sophie Narme was drugged, raped and stabbed in the chest. In similar circumstances another estate agent, aged 19 was attacked – but managed to get away. Blood and DNA from the crime scene matched that of Dominique.
Among the other convicted men, sentences ranged from three to 15 years. The perpetrators included individuals from various backgrounds—lorry drivers, laborers, and retirees—many of whom committed their crimes in Gisele’s home.
Key offenders include:Romain V, 63, sentenced to 15 years for raping Gisele six times between December 2019 and January 2020, Dominique D, 45, sentenced to 13 years for six rapes between 2015 and 2020 and Jean-Luc L, 46, sentenced to 10 years for multiple assaults between 2018 and 2019.
The trial detailed the chilling methods used to abuse Gisele, including drugging and recording her assaults.
The case has sparked nationwide outrage and galvanized feminist groups, who have rallied in support of Gisele. Advocates view the convictions as a step forward in addressing systemic abuse and ensuring justice for survivors.
Gisele, whose bravery in confronting her attackers has been widely praised, is expected to make a statement following the sentencing.
All defendants have 10 days to appeal their convictions, though the legal team for several has indicated they will not contest the rulings.
This trial marks one of the largest collective prosecutions for sexual violence in French legal history.
