A French court has convicted 72-year-old Dominique Pelicot to 20 years in prison for drugging his ex-wife, Gisele, and recruiting over 50 men to rape her.
Cyber Reporters gathered that the heinous crimes were committed over a period of nearly a decade.
The court in Avignon found Pelicot guilty of aggravated rape, with the judge describing the crimes as “extremely serious”.
Gisele Pelicot, also 72, has been hailed as a feminist hero for her bravery in waiving her right to a closed trial and facing her aggressors in court.
Her courage has inspired many, and she has become a symbol of resistance against sexual violence.
Gisele was accompanied to the courthouse by supporters and feminist activists, who chanted her name and slogans such as “Justice for Gisele” and “Shame has Changed Sides”.
Cyber Reporters understands that the trial, which lasted over three months, also involved 50 other men who were accused of raping Gisele.
The prosecution requested sentences ranging from 10 to 18 years in prison for the other defendants.
One of the defendants was tried in absentia, while another faced a lesser charge of groping.
The court’s verdict is expected to have a significant impact on the other defendants, who will be sentenced in the coming days.
Gisele’s children, David, Caroline, and Florian, were present in court, arriving alongside some of the men accused of raping their mother.
The family showed solidarity with Gisele, who has become a symbol of strength and resilience.
