France awaits 51 verdicts in Gisele Pelicot mass rape trial

A husband described as one of France's worst sex offenders is expected to be sentenced tomorrow - as the verdicts for all 51 defendants come back in the Gisele Pelicot mass rape trial.

Dominique Pelicot, 72, has admitted drugging and raping his then-wife Ms Pelicot, 72, for almost a decade.

During the four-month trial, he explained how he invited strangers to allegedly rape her as well.

"I am a rapist," he said while giving evidence, claiming all the other defendants were also aware it was rape.

The court heard Dominique Pelicot began sedating his wife with anti-anxiety medication and raping her in 2011 when they lived in Paris.

However, his crimes escalated when they moved to the pretty Provencal village of Mazan.

It was here that he said he began recruiting men to rape his wife using a chat room called "without her knowing".

He told the men he invited to their home not to park by the house to avoid detection.

They were also told not to wear fragrance or smoke to avoid leaving any trace that Ms Pelicot may smell.

He then filmed the attacks.

In 2020, he was caught by chance when a security guard spotted him trying to film up women's skirts in a local shopping centre.

A complaint was filed and when the police investigated, they found 20,000 indecent images including footage of men having sex with Ms Pelicot while she was sedated.

"He's extremely dangerous because he's intelligent and he's calculated," said Christophe Huguenin-Virchaux, a lawyer for one of the defendants.

"Mazan is possibly just a drop in the ocean of what Dominique Pelicot has done."

Fifty other men have also been on trial accused of rape or sexual assault.

The majority deny the charges saying they were not aware that Ms Pelicot had not consented.

Some claim Dominique Pelicot had told them that they were taking part in the couple's sex game.

Among those facing one of the most severe sentences is 30-year-old Charly A.

He is accused of raping Ms Pelicot six times including on her birthday.

Mr Huguenin-Virchaux, his defence lawyer, has argued Charly thought Ms Pelicot knew what was happening.

"From the beginning, he was told this was a scenario for swingers. A couple with a fantasy. He was light years away from realising he was participating in rape," the defence lawyer added.

Unconscious and powerless when she was attacked, Ms Pelicot consciously waived her right to anonymity so the evidence could be heard in public.

Her bravery has inspired millions of people across the country and beyond to join protests against sexual violence.

Read more:
Pelicot sons face 'devil father' in court
Thousands protest against sexual violence in France
Ms Pelicot says her husband 'destroyed' and betrayed her

Judges are expected to hand down all the verdicts and sentences on Thursday.

Dominique Pelicot faces the rest of his life in jail.

Prosecutors have asked for sentences totalling more than 600 years in jail for all 51 defendants.

Ms Pelicot says she is a destroyed woman.

The 72-year-old has said she is seeing a psychologist and takes long walks as she tries to rebuild what others stole from her.

She does not know if she will ever recover.

And there's no doubt, the horror of what happened to her will haunt France long after the verdicts are delivered.

(c) Sky News 2024: France awaits 51 verdicts in Gisele Pelicot mass rape trial