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Prosecutors in France requested a 20-year prison sentence for Dominique Pelicot, who drugged and allowed dozens of men to rape his then-wife, Gisele Pelicot. The trial, involving 50 defendants including Pelicot, concluded arguments Monday in Avignon after beginning in September. One defendant is being tried in absentia.
The case has ignited protests and discussions regarding violence against women in France, including recent nationwide demonstrations. Prosecutors believe the trial could significantly impact societal views on gender relations. Prosecutor Laure Chabaud, while requesting the 20-year sentence, said: “Twenty years is a lot because it is 20 years of a life. But it is both a lot and too little. Too little in view of the seriousness of the acts that were committed and repeated.”
Pelicot, 71, confessed to drugging his wife with anti-anxiety medication between 2011 and 2020 in their Mazan village home. He then invited men he met online to rape and abuse her, recording the assaults. Police uncovered the evidence after arresting him for filming up women’s skirts.
Many defendants claimed they believed they were participating in a consensual act, accepting Pelicot’s assertion that his wife was pretending to be asleep. Some also claimed they were not in their right minds during the assaults, a defense not supported by court-appointed experts. Chabaud countered this, arguing: “In 2024, we can no longer say: ‘Since she said nothing, she agreed’. The absence of consent could not be ignored by the defendants.”
Sentencing recommendations will continue for three days. Most defendants, including Dominique Pelicot, face aggravated rape charges. Pelicot’s lawyer said he was “devastated” by the sentencing request. One defendant, Jean-Pierre M, faces a 17-year sentence recommendation for replicating Pelicot’s actions against his own wife. Prosecutors requested prison sentences ranging from four to 13 years for the other defendants.
Some defense lawyers criticised the recommendations as excessive, claiming they were influenced by public opinion. Gisele Pelicot, who advocated for a public trial, has become a symbol in the fight against sexual abuse. Prosecutor Jean-Francois Mayet highlighted the significance of the trial, saying: “What is at stake … is not a conviction or an acquittal … [but] to fundamentally change the relations between men and women.” Additionally, Prime Minister Michel Barnier described the trial as pivotal for France’s efforts against gender-based violence. “I’m convinced that the Mazan trial will mark a before and after,” he had said
The verdicts and sentences are expected by December 20.
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