December 30th 2024.
According to his lawyer, Dominique Pelicot has decided not to appeal his 20-year prison sentence for drugging and raping his ex-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and allowing other men to do the same while she was unconscious. This decision comes after a lengthy trial that captured the attention of the entire country and sparked important conversations about sexual violence in France.
In an interview with broadcaster France Info, Pelicot's lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, shared that her client made the difficult choice to spare his ex-wife from the trauma of another trial. She explained that 17 of the 50 other men who were also found guilty in this case have decided to appeal their sentences, but Pelicot has chosen not to join them.
The court in Avignon, where the trial took place, handed down sentences ranging from three to 15 years for the 50 men who were found guilty of rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault against Gisèle Pelicot over a period of nearly a decade. Pelicot himself was found guilty of all charges and received the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. At 72 years old, he may spend the rest of his life behind bars and will not be eligible for early release until he has served at least two-thirds of his sentence.
Zavarro shared that her client has come to this decision because he believes that another trial would be too much for his ex-wife to endure. He wants to turn the page on this chapter and move forward, without the added stress and trauma of a new legal battle. Zavarro also noted that this trial has been a turning point for France, sparking a national conversation about the prevalence of rape culture and the need for stronger measures to combat it.
During the trial, it was revealed that Pelicot had drugged his ex-wife's food and drink in order to render her unconscious, and then invited strangers he met online to participate in disturbing rape and abuse fantasies, which he filmed in the couple's retirement home and other locations. Gisèle Pelicot's bravery in speaking out and facing her abusers in court has been a source of inspiration for many, and she has chosen to waive her right to anonymity as a survivor of sexual abuse. She insisted that the shame should fall on her abusers, not on her.
As the trial came to a close, Gisèle Pelicot's powerful testimony and the shocking evidence presented, including homemade videos of the rapes, left a lasting impact on the country. This case has been a wake-up call for France, and it is clear that there is still much work to be done in order to eradicate rape culture. The public can stay updated on this case and other important news by downloading the 9NEWS app, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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