Gisèle Pelicot arrives on the courthouse in Avignon, France, on Dec. 19, 2024, upfront of the decision being learn out from the trial of her ex-husband and greater than 4 dozen different males who have been discovered responsible of aggravated rape towards Gisèle Pelicot.
CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP through Getty Photos
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CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP through Getty Photos
AVIGNON, France — A French panel of judges discovered dozens of males responsible of raping a lady whose then-husband had drugged her unconscious over the course of a decade. The court docket sentenced the husband to a most 20 years of imprisonment.
The five-judge panel first dominated that the ex-husband of Gisèle Pelicot was responsible of aggravated rapes and all different fees towards him.
“You are therefore declared guilty of aggravated rape on the person of Mme. Gisèle Pelicot,” stated Roger Arata the lead decide within the court docket, addressing Dominique Pelicot and the primary group of males discovered responsible, reported the Related Press. A complete of 51 males, together with Dominique Pelicot, stood trial.
At age 72, Dominique Pelicot might spend the remainder of his life in jail.
Gisèle Pelicot spoke to a crowd outdoors the courthouse after the verdicts have been issued. She stated she by no means regretted waiving her proper to anonymity within the public trial and thanked victims whose tales are “often in the shadows.”
“I trust in our capacity collectively to find a better future where women and men alike can live together with mutual respect,” she stated.
Dominique Pelicot and 49 different males have been tried for aggravated rape and tried rape. Prosecutors additionally requested a four-year jail time period for an additional defendant, who was tried for aggravated sexual assault.
“She’s a hero” added Blandine Deverlanges, head of the feminist group Les Amazones d’Avignon (Amazons of Avignon). “A kind of hero because she refused to be silenced. And she wanted her story to be public and she gave us huge present for us women because she gave us her story so now it’s our story.”
The court docket choice ends a 15-week trial on this southern French metropolis that included detailed descriptions of systematic drugging and sexual abuse, triggering a nationwide debate in regards to the therapy of ladies in society.
Though the crimes occurred time and again behind closed doorways — unknown even to the sufferer on the time — the hearings and verdict passed off in entrance of the world’s information media, as she insisted on a public trial, turning her right into a hero for supporters who celebrated her bravery.
She was combating for “all those people around the world, women and men, who are victims of sexual violence,” she stated.
“This trial has already changed things because lots of women are now holding open trials,” Valentine Rioufol, a feminist from Avignon, stated Thursday after the verdicts have been learn out. “Pelicot set a huge example. Women will have open rape trials now. They are no longer scared to do it. The shame has changed sides.”
In the course of the trial, her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, admitted to the fees of rape and testified he had used tranquilizers hidden in her foods and drinks to ship her into deep sufficient sleep that she would not be stirred awake.
However most of the accused didn’t confess, although movies of their acts have been proven on massive screens within the courtroom. Police had discovered 1000’s of pictures and movies on the husband’s pc drives that supplied prosecutors proof of the abuse. Gisèle Pelicot had insisted such proof be proven in court docket.
A girl holds a placard studying in French “All women on Earth support you, thank you Gisele” as folks gathered outdoors the courthouse in Avignon, France, on Dec. 19, 2024, upfront of the verdicts being learn out from the trial of an ex-husband and greater than 4 dozen different males who have been discovered responsible of aggravated rape towards Gisèle Pelicot.
CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP through Getty Photos
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CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP through Getty Photos
She turned one thing of a hero for crowds of principally ladies who gathered outdoors the court docket.
“She gave us an important gift by demanding that this trial be open for the world to see. So we have to be here to support her,” stated supporter Chantal Cremont.
There have been different reveals of assist for the sufferer, reminiscent of a current demonstration in Paris.
“We’re very proud of her because she’s very strong and what she did — she’s really brave,” stated Amélie Chauveau, who attended the Paris rally in November.
Many French males, in the meantime, have expressed disgrace. Some used the hashtag #NotAllMen in social media posts distancing themselves from the horrible acts. That worries journalist Victoire Tuaillon, who hosts a podcast that explores male violence.
“Most think that these men are kind of monsters, totally different from them, you know? They think that, the case doesn’t really concern them because they think that, I would never do that,” Tuaillon instructed NPR.
Mathieu Palain, who has written books on male violence towards ladies, famous that the case uncovered how atypical the perpetrators might be.
“This frightening trial shows us that these men are not depraved criminals but actually regular guys who have wives and kids and jobs — a baker, a firefighter. They’re our brothers, our fathers. And that’s shocking,” Palain stated. “It would be easier to say these violent men have nothing to do with us.”
