Dominique Pelicot, the ex-husband of Gisèle Pelicot, has opted not to appeal his 20-year prison sentence for drugging and raping his wife, his lawyer announced on Monday.
Why It Matters
The trial, which concluded earlier this month in Avignon, France, exposed a decade of horrific abuse.
Dominique Pelicot, 72, drugged Gisèle with tranquilizers, rendering her unconscious while inviting at least 50 strangers to sexually assault her in their home and other locations.
The case has shaken France and has been widely seen as a landmark moment in the country's reckoning with sexual violence. Gisèle Pelicot, a retired power company employee, emerged as a symbol of resilience and justice during the three-month trial. Rejecting the anonymity typically granted to survivors of sexual violence, she insisted on an open trial to shift the burden of shame onto her abusers.
Her bravery in recounting years of abuse—in what she believed was a loving marriage—has galvanized activists and sparked renewed calls for stronger action against rape culture.
What To Know
Béatrice Zavarro, Dominique Pelicot's attorney, said on Monday in an interview with broadcaster France Info that Dominque will not appeal his prison sentence, saying that his clients wants to spare his ex-wife from a "new ordeal" of another trial.
Of the 50 men aside from Dominique Pelicot who were accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot, just one was acquitted but was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault. Another man was also found guilty on the sexual assault charge that he was tried for—meaning all 51 of the defendants were found guilty in one way or another.
However, 17 of the 50 men convicted of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault in the same trial have filed appeals, signaling that the legal proceedings are far from over. Sentences for the perpetrators ranged from three to 15 years, while Dominique Pelicot received the maximum penalty.
Dominique Pélicot first drew the attention of police in September 2020 when a supermarket security guard caught him secretly filming under women's skirts. This seemingly minor incident led to a horrifying discovery.
When police searched Pélicot's home, they uncovered a massive trove of evidence documenting years of abuse inflicted on his wife. Stored on computer drives were over 20,000 photos and videos, meticulously cataloged in folders labeled with chilling titles such as "abuse," "her rapists" and "night alone."
The extensive collection not only revealed the scale of Dominique Pélicot's crimes but also led investigators to dozens of other suspects. In reviewing the footage, police counted 72 different abusers, though they were unable to identify them all, leaving some perpetrators still unaccounted for.
What People Are Saying
Zavarro, Dominique Pelicot's lawyer, said: "He believes that the judicial page should be turned and that this chapter should be considered closed."
Gisèle Pelicot said after the court in the southern French city of Avignon handed down prison sentences ranging from three to 20 years that she had her grandchildren in mind as she endured the more than three months of hearings, saying: "It's also for them that I led this fight."
Fanny Foures, 48, from the feminist group Les Amazones, said while gluing messages of support for Gisèle Pelicot on walls around Avignon before the verdict: "Men are starting to talk to women—their girlfriends, mothers and friends—in ways they hadn't before," she said.
"It was awkward at first, but now real dialogues are happening," she added.
What Happens Next
While Dominique Pelicot will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for early release, Gisèle Pelicot's case has left an indelible mark. Her advocacy continues to inspire a nation grappling with the devastating realities of sexual violence as advocates are now calling for sweeping reforms to address the systemic issues that allowed such atrocities to go unchecked for years.
Meanwhile, an appeals trial for the other convicted men is expected to begin in late 2025, according to the appeals court in the southern city of Nimes said in a statement.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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