French prosecutors have demanded a maximum 20-year prison sentence for 71-year-old Dominique Pelicot, who orchestrated the repeated drugging and rape of his now ex-wife, Gisele Pelicot, over nearly a decade. The high-profile trial, held in Avignon, involves Pelicot and 49 other defendants accused of sexual abuse, with one man being tried in absentia.
Between 2011 and 2020, Pelicot drugged his wife at their home in Mazan, allowing strangers he recruited online to assault her. He recorded these crimes in thousands of photos and videos, which were uncovered by police following his arrest for unrelated voyeurism.
Prosecutor Laure Chabaud described the acts as heinous and called for the trial to prompt a societal reckoning on male violence and consent.
Prime Minister Michel Barnier has called the case a turning point in France’s fight against violence towards women. “This trial will mark a ‘before and after’ for how our society addresses these issues,” he said, highlighting the need for change in intimate relationships and societal attitudes towards consent.
The case has sparked outrage across the country, with tens of thousands joining protests against gender-based violence on Saturday, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Some defendants argued that they believed Dominique Pelicot’s claims that his wife had consented to the encounters as part of a libertine fantasy. Others claimed they were unaware of her incapacitation. However, prosecutors rejected these defences, stating that the absence of consent was undeniable.
Charges against the accused range from aggravated rape to complicity, with sentences varying based on the frequency of their involvement. One defendant, Jean-Pierre M., faces a 17-year sentence for using similar methods to rape his own wife, often in Pelicot’s presence.
Gisele Pelicot’s insistence on a public trial has transformed her into a symbol of resilience in the fight against sexual violence. The court praised her courage, particularly her decision to allow evidence—including explicit photos and videos—to be shown during proceedings.
The trial is expected to conclude by December 20, with the verdict anticipated to set a landmark precedent for combating gender-based violence and reinforcing the principle of consent in French law.
