November 25th 2024.
The highly publicized mammoth rape trial in France has entered a new phase, with prosecutors presenting their desired verdicts and punishments for the 51 defendants accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot while she was drugged and unconscious by her husband. The trial, which has spanned over three months, is finally coming to a close in the southern city of Avignon.
Throughout the harrowing proceedings, Pelicot has shown immense courage, earning her the title of an icon not just in France, but also for activists fighting against sexual violence worldwide. The trial has drawn attention to the issue of sexual violence and the need for justice for the victims.
The first defendant to be discussed by the prosecutors was Dominique Pelicot, the 71-year-old husband of Gisèle Pelicot. Despite being married for almost 50 years, Gisèle believed her husband to be loving and caring. However, it was later revealed that he had been drugging her food and drinks for years to rape her, and even invited others to do the same through online recruitment.
Prosecutor Laure Chabaud urged the panel of judges to hand down the maximum penalty of 20 years for aggravated rape against Dominique Pelicot. As the prosecutor spoke, the 72-year-old man sat with his head down, gripping his cane. Chabaud stated, "Twenty years behind prison walls. It may seem like a lot, but it's not enough."
The verdicts are expected to be announced by December 20th.
Gisèle Pelicot, who chose to waive her right to anonymity, has been a strong advocate for her own case, requesting that graphic images her husband filmed of the rapes be presented in court. These images show her unconscious and unresponsive, with audible snoring. Prosecutor Jean-François Mayet praised her for her bravery and her desire to shift the shame onto the rapists, rather than the victims.
Mayet also noted that it was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, emphasizing the need for society to change its perspective on rape culture. Gisèle Pelicot sat quietly throughout the proceedings, occasionally glancing up at the ceiling.
The prosecutors then delved into the evidence against Dominique Pelicot, which included a library of over 20,000 photos and videos cataloguing the abuse that went on for almost a decade. The evidence, found on various devices such as hard drives and phones, has also led to the identification of dozens of other men who participated in the abuse. However, there are still about 20 others whose identities remain unknown.
All but one of the defendants are being charged with aggravated rape or attempted rape. In previous testimonies, Gisèle has described how she was treated "like a rag doll, like a garbage bag." Due to the high number of defendants and alleged rapes, the prosecutors are expected to take three days to summarize the evidence and present their desired sentences, which include at least 10 years in prison for the co-defendants.
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