After four months of a historic trial, Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to twenty years in prison— the maximum penalty—for the aggravated rape of his ex-wife, Gisèle Pelicot.
The other 50 defendants, almost all of whom were tried for "aggravated rape" of Gisèle Pelicot were all found guilty and sentenced to a minimum of 3 years in prison, two of whom had their sentences suspended.
Dominique Pelicot's sentence was in line with the prosecution's recommendations. He was found guilty of raping, sedating, and filming his now 72-year-old wife being sexually assaulted over a 10-year period. Nearly 200 rapes were recorded.
He was also found guilty of recording and possessing images taken without the knowledge of his wife, daughter, and daughters-in-law. He will also be registered on the national sex offenders register.
Gisèle Pelicot thanked supporters outside of the courtroom following the verdict.
“Your messages moved me deeply, and they gave me the strength to come back, every day, and survive through these long daily hearings,” she said, according to the Associated Press. “This trial was a very difficult ordeal.”
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