Gisele Pelicot rape trial: French court jails husband who organised the mass rapes of his wife

A man who repeatedly drugged his wife and invited strangers to rape her while she was unconscious has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after a historic mass trial.

Dominique Pelicot, 72, had confessed to all the charges and admitted he mixed sedatives into the food and drink of his wife, Gisele Pelicot, so he could sexually assault her.

Warning: This story contains details that readers may find distressing

He is one of 51 men who were on trial for participating in the attacks against Ms Pelicot, 71.

Admitting to his crimes, Dominique Pelicot previously told the court during his trial: “I am a rapist just like all the others in this room.”

Ms Pelicot waived her right to anonymity and insisted the trial was held in public, and that the court in Avignon show the explicit videos of the rape recorded by her husband.

Explaining why, she said: “It’s not for us to have shame, it’s for them.”

It is a case that has shocked France and made headlines around the world, with mass protests against sexual violence held across Europe.

Women across the world have shown solidarity with Ms Pelicot, including in protests in Paris.

Crowds, mostly made up of women, flocked to the courthouse to show their support for Ms Pelicot during the trial – waiting hours to get inside, and holding up signs that read: “Gisele: Women thank you.”

Ms Pelicot was seen smiling as she arrived at court this morning where her supporters were already gathered.

She told waiting reporters she will speak after the verdicts have been delivered.

Her supporters shouted “justice for Gisele” and applauded her as she made her way to he courthouse.

‘They regarded me like a rubbish bag’

The Pelicots were married for 50 years and had three children, moving to a small town in Provence after they retired.

Everything appeared normal, until Ms Pelicot’s life was torn apart in late 2020.

Her husband was arrested in September 2020 for filming up women’s skirts in a supermarket.

Police searched the couple’s house and electronic devices and found thousands of photos and videos of men engaging in sexual acts with Ms Pelicot while she appeared unconscious.

It was discovered that Dominique Pelicot had offered sex with his wife on a website and filmed the abuse. Ms Pelicot was so heavily drugged she had no recollection of being attacked and had to be told by the police what had happened to her.

The men, she told the court, treated her “like a rag doll, like a rubbish bag”.

The hard drive also contained naked images of the couple’s eldest daughter, although Pelicot denied ever abusing her, as well as images taken on a hidden camera of his pregnant daughter-in-law. Both victims also waived their right to anonymity.

Read more: Sons face ‘devil’ father in court

‘Mr Everyman’

Some 50 other men are also on trial alongside Dominique Pelicot.

Among those accused of rape were a firefighter, a soldier, a journalist and multiple farm workers.

They were of different ages, ethnicities and social backgrounds – and had been dubbed “Monsieur Tout le monde” or “Mr Everyman” by the French press, because their backgrounds are so varied.

Most lived within a 35-mile radius of the couple, and some were even known to Ms Pelicot.

Some denied the rape charges, claiming they believed Ms Pelicot had agreed to be drugged and was a willing participant in a sex game between the couple.

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But Ms Pelicot told the court: “They didn’t rape me with a gun to their heads. They were fully conscious when they were raping me.”

She added: “Why didn’t they go to the police? Even an anonymous phone call could have saved my life.”

Debate around France’s rape law

The trial has sparked a debate about whether France should update its rape law, which does not require sex to involve consent.

Instead, prosecutors must prove a perpetrator’s intent to rape using “violence, coercion, threat or surprise”.