December 19, 2024

A French court has sentenced a 72-year-old man, Dominique Pelicot, to 20 years in prison for orchestrating and committing a decade-long series of rapes and abuses against his then-wife, Gisèle Pelicot.

According to reports, the trial began in September at the court in Avignon and has drawn worldwide attention.

Pelicot was found guilty of repeatedly raping his wife and enlisting 50 other men to participate in the abuse, which the court described as unparalleled in its cruelty.

The trial, which concluded in Avignon, saw 50 other men convicted for their roles in the abuse. While some received reduced sentences due to time already served, others walked free with suspended sentences or because of health conditions.

The ages of the convicted men ranged from 27 to 74, and they are professionals, including nurse, journalist, military personnel, hotel manager, teacher, and prison guard.

The lawyer for Dominique Pelicot, Beatrice Zavarro, indicated that an appeal might be filed but stopped short of confirming any plans.

Gisèle Pelicot, who waived her anonymity to raise awareness and inspire societal change, appeared composed as the verdicts were announced. She briefly greeted supporters gathered outside the courthouse but left quietly after the sentencing.

“We don’t have the authority to critique a judicial decision, only to appeal it,” she said, adding that Pelicot had been unfairly made the “scapegoat” of the trial. “I think in announcing this verdict, the court has condemned the head of this orchestra, differentiating him and the different men who make up this orchestra,” she remarked.

Presiding Judge Roger Arata noted that some of the convicted men would not be taken to prison immediately due to health considerations, adding, “A few more days of freedom while we find a suitable prison.”

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