Dominique Pelicot, 72, Will Not Appeal 20-Year Sentence for Mass Rapes as 17 Others Appeal

Dec 30, 2024, 07:57 AM

Dominique Pelicot, 72 years old and convicted of drugging and raping his ex-wife Gisèle Pelicot and facilitating her rape by dozens of other men over a decade, has decided not to appeal his 20-year prison sentence, the maximum possible. His decision was announced by his lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, who stated that Pelicot wishes to spare his ex-wife the ordeal of another trial. The case, which shocked France, involved 51 men, including Pelicot, who were found guilty of various charges related to the rape and sexual assault of Gisèle Pelicot after nearly four months of trial in Vaucluse. At least 17 of the other 50 convicted men have appealed their sentences, which range from one to 15 years, setting the stage for a new trial.