According to Reuters, Dominique Pelicot had admitted to the crimes, including drugging Gisele with powerful tranquilizers to render her unconscious. He confessed that for years, he used his wife’s comatose state to allow other men to sexually assault her.
Judges sentenced Pelicot to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors have recommended sentences ranging from 4 to 18 years for the other 50 men involved in the case, most of whom are accused of raping Gisele while she was unconscious.
The defendants in the case come from various backgrounds, with some being lorry drivers, soldiers, firefighters, supermarket workers, journalists, and even the unemployed. The youngest accused was just 22 when he entered Gisele’s bedroom, while the oldest was in his early 70s. Many of the men were married or in relationships at the time of the abuse, and most lived within a 50-km (31-mile) radius of the Pelicot home in Mazan, a picturesque village in southern France, known for its vineyards and quiet beauty.
The case only came to light in 2020 when Dominique was caught attempting to photograph women in a supermarket, sparking an investigation that uncovered over 20,000 disturbing images and videos on his computers. Police believe that a total of 72 men visited the Pelicot home to abuse Gisele, though many of the perpetrators remain unidentified.
In response to the case, legal experts and advocates have pushed for reforms in French law to explicitly define consent in sexual activity.
Gisele, who has waived her right to anonymity, has become a voice for other women suffering in silence. She insisted that the trial be held publicly, with the harrowing videos aired in court to highlight the extent of the abuse. “This is not just my battle, but that of all rape victims,” she declared. Despite the painful and humiliating process, Gisele’s determination to bring attention to her story has been unwavering.
“I’ve decided not to be ashamed, I’ve done nothing wrong,” she told the court in October. “They are the ones who must be ashamed.”
