A French court finds Dominique Pelicot guilty of drugging and raping his wife for a decade, exposing shocking abuse. Victim Gisele Pelicot becomes a symbol of courage and resilience.
A panel of judges did not immediately issue a sentence. Prosecutors have demanded a term of 20 years in prison, in a case that has appalled the world and turned the victim, Gisele Pelicot, into a symbol of courage and resilience.
Prosecutors are also seeking terms of between four and 18 years for a further 50 defendants, almost all of whom are accused of raping the comatose Pelicot. The verdicts are due to be handed down by the court in southern France on Thursday.
Dominique Pelicot, 72, pleaded guilty to the charges during the three-month trial and apologised to his family.
Many of his fellow defendants, whom he had met online, denied rape, saying they thought they were taking part in a consensual sex game orchestrated by the couple and arguing that it wasn't rape if the husband approved.
Pelicot has denied misleading the men, who came from all walks of life, saying they knew that his now ex-wife was unconscious and unaware of what they were doing to her.
Gisele Pelicot, 72, waived her right to anonymity during the trial and demanded that horrifying videos of the serial abuse, which were recorded by her former husband, should be seen in court, saying she hoped this would help other women speak up.
The trial has triggered protest rallies around France in support of Gisele, and spurred soul searching, including a debate on whether to update France's rape law, which at present makes no mention that sex should involve consent.
Gisele stared down her abusers with steely determination in the packed courtroom day after day, scoffing at any claim that she might have been a willing participant.
"I've decided not to be ashamed, I've done nothing wrong," she testified in October. "They are the ones who must be ashamed," she said.
Senior officials and media leaders from Turkic states met in Ankara on 18-19 December, 2025 to strengthen cooperation against disinformation and deepe...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 21st of December, covering the latest developments you need to...
At least 10 people have been killed and 10 wounded after gunmen opened fire at a bar in a township west of Johannesburg, police said on Sunday, in the...
Japan and five Central Asian nations have unveiled a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening critical minerals supply chains and fostering broader...
The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could include American and European representa...
Gisèle Pelicot, whose testimony helped expose one of France’s most disturbing rape cases, returned to court on Monday for the appeal of one of the 51 men convicted of sexually assaulting her.
Giselle Pélicot, a 72-year-old survivor of a harrowing mass rape, has been named France's Person of the Year in a decision that reflects the nation's admiration for her courage and dignity. Her story moved millions, outshining political leaders in a survey conducted by the Odoxa-Mascaret Institute.
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred remains at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, more than three weeks after the blaze began, authorities said on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The United States has suspended the Diversity Visa Lottery programme, commonly known as the Green Card lottery, after a deadly shooting at Brown University.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
The United States has proposed a potential new format for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, which could include American and European representatives, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, December 20.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has become the world’s richest individual, with a net worth of US$749 billion, after the Delaware Supreme Court reinstated $139 billion in stock options that were voided last year, according to Forbes’ billionaires index.
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
The Games of the Future 2025 kicked off with an opening ceremony, merging physical sports and digital e-sports to create a unique "phygital" category.
In a ground-breaking development, artificial intelligence (AI) is taking on new forms in Japan, where it has extended to a more personal and intimate domain being romantic relationships.
Peru has received 347 repatriated cultural artefacts from the U.S., including rare pre-Columbian ceramics and textiles, in one of the country’s largest heritage returns in recent years.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment