Dominique Pelicot, sentenced to 20 years in prison by a French court for drugging and raping his then-wife, Gisele Pelicot, over nearly a decade and enabling dozens of strangers to rape her, will not appeal the verdict, his lawyer confirmed Monday. However, a new trial is expected as 17 of his 50 co-defendants have appealed their convictions.
The case, which has shocked global audiences, concluded on December 19 with the court convicting all defendants. Gisele Pelicot, now 72, has become a symbol of resilience and courage throughout the three-month trial.
“He decided not to appeal because he says it would subject his wife to a new ordeal and more confrontations, and he always maintained that she was not his adversary,” Pelicot’s lawyer, Béatrice Zavarro, stated on FranceInfo Radio.
Dominique Pelicot, who was married to Gisele for 50 years, pleaded guilty and received the maximum sentence requested by prosecutors. The court also found 46 other defendants guilty of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault, with sentences ranging from three to 15 years—slightly less than the four to 18 years sought by prosecutors.
Seventeen co-defendants have already filed appeals, with others having until midnight on Monday to decide. The defendants, who came from various professions such as lorry drivers, soldiers, firefighters, and journalists, largely denied the charges, claiming they believed the acts were part of a consensual arrangement orchestrated by the couple.
Pelicot denied misleading the men, stating that they were fully aware of the nature of their actions.
The trial has sparked nationwide protests in support of Gisele Pelicot and reignited discussions about revising France’s rape laws to explicitly include the concept of consent.
Gisele Pelicot’s lawyer earlier this month stated that she is prepared for a potential new trial. “She is not afraid. If a new trial happens, she has already said she will face it—health permitting, of course, as she is 72 years old,” her lawyer said.
