After 16 Weeks, the Pelicot Trial Is Over: Justice Delivered in France’s Largest Rape Case
20 DEC 2024
After 16 weeks, the Pelicot trial is over. Gisèle Pelicot’s courageous decision to waive her anonymity led to the conviction of her ex-husband and 50 others in France’s largest-ever rape trial, marking a pivotal moment in the fight against sexual violence.
L: Gisele Pelicot addresses the press as she leaves the courthouse in Avignon, southern France, on Dec. 19, 2024 R:Gisele Pelicot leaves the courthouse after hearing the verdict of the court that sentenced her ex-husband (PC: ABC News)
Dominique Pelicot, 72, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping his wife over nearly a decade and facilitating the sexual abuse of her by dozens of strangers. The Avignon court found him guilty of all charges, including taking indecent images of his daughter and daughters-in-law. His accomplices, 50 men from nearby towns, received sentences ranging from three to 15 years, with many already having served time since their arrest in 2021.
The court's proceedings exposed a harrowing timeline of abuse. From 2011, Dominique systematically drugged Gisèle and filmed her assault by men he recruited online. Police discovered his crimes in 2020 when they arrested him for unrelated charges of voyeurism, uncovering thousands of videos documenting around 200 assaults. The videos enabled investigators to identify most perpetrators, though 21 remain unidentified.
Dominique’s defense—that he deceived the men into thinking they were participating in consensual acts—sparked a heated nationwide debate. France's current legal definition of rape requires proof of intent, leaving gaps in addressing cases involving drug-induced submission. Calls to revise the definition to include issues of consent have gained momentum.
Outside the Avignon courthouse, hundreds of supporters gathered with banners reading “Thank you, Gisèle,” chanting “shame changes sides,” a phrase the survivor herself used in court. Journalists from around the globe documented the trial, while feminist songs echoed in solidarity.
Speaking after the verdict, Gisèle, now 72, stood with her grandson at her side, her voice trembling as she thanked her supporters. "I never regretted my decision to make this public," she said. "Society needed to see what was happening." Despite her bravery, she admitted to feeling like a “field of ruins” beneath her resilient exterior, emphasizing that she does not wish to be idolized.
People hold placards as they gather in support of Gisèle Pelicot in front of the courthouse in Avignon
The verdict also divided opinion within Gisèle’s family. Her daughter, Caroline Darian, felt like an overlooked victim, believing her own experiences of abuse went unacknowledged due to lack of evidence. In court, she lashed out at her father, promising never to visit him again.
Dominique’s co-accused included men from varied professions—firefighters, soldiers, lorry drivers, and more—dubbed “Monsieur-Tout-Le-Monde” (Mr. Everyman) by their defense lawyers to highlight their ordinariness. Some claimed they believed they were partaking in a consensual act and denied knowledge of Gisèle's unconscious state, further fueling public outcry over systemic issues surrounding consent and sexual violence in France.
This trial not only highlighted the grim realities of sexual violence but also underscored the strength of survivors. “Women have a strength they often don’t realize,” said Gisèle’s lawyer, Stéphane Babonneau. “Her message is simple: trust yourself.”
Gisèle Pelicot also thanked her supporters in a speech outside court, after her ex-husband Dominique Pelicot was jailed for 20 years. Gisèle Pelicot was once an anonymous, retired grandmother in France when she first entered the doors of the Avignon tribunal. Today, as she stepped down the courthouse steps for the final time, she left as a feminist icon. More than a hundred journalists tracked her every movement as she placed her hand over her heart, offering a quiet smile of gratitude to the crowd chanting her name in support. As her car pulled away, many supporters were overcome with emotion, wiping away tears. The deep admiration for this remarkable woman was undeniable.
She remains clear that her battle isn’t one for accolades but for justice and change. “I hope for a better future where men and women can live in mutual respect,” she declared, her words met with resounding applause from those who stood with her in solidarity.
Gisèle Pelicot's legacy will endure for years to come.
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