Dominique Pelicot Gets 20 Years for Orchestrating Ex-Wife Gisèle's Rape by Over 70 Men

Dec 19, 2024, 01:01 PM

A French court has sentenced 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot to 20 years in prison for repeatedly drugging and raping his ex-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, and orchestrating her rape by over 70 strangers during nearly a decade. Pelicot recorded over 200 rapes, with police discovering more than 20,000 videos and photographs. The trial, held in Avignon, concluded with all 51 defendants found guilty of aggravated rape and other charges, receiving sentences ranging from three to 20 years. While Pelicot received the maximum sentence, some, including the couple's children, have expressed disappointment over the lighter sentences given to other defendants, with some receiving as little as three years and six men released ahead of Christmas. The case has drawn international attention and is seen as a landmark in addressing sexual violence and consent issues in France.