Judges are set to deliver their verdicts in a mass rape trial against 51 men involving Giséle Pelicot in a historic case that has profoundly shaken the country over the past several months.
Dominique Pelicot, the now ex-husband of the 72-year-old grandmother, is among those in the dock, who admitted that for years, he drugged his wife so he and strangers could abuse her while he filmed it.
Pelicot, also 72, and the 49 other men were tried in the southern French city of Avignon for aggravated rape and attempted rape and face up to 20 years imprisonment if convicted.
Prosecutors asked that he get the maximum penalty and for sentences of 10-18 years for the others. They also requested a four-year prison term for another defendant who was tried for aggravated sexual assault.
Stretching over more than three months, the trial galvanised campaigners against sexual violence and spurred calls for tougher measures to stamp out rape culture.
The proceedings will begin at 9.30 a.m. (0830 GMT) at the Avignon courthouse.
Watch live: Gisele Pelicot speaks out after mass rape trial verdicts of 51 defendants including husband
08:18 , Alex Croft
Watch live as Gisele Pelicot is due to deliver a statement following the verdicts in France‘s mass rape trial on Thursday, 19 December.
A panel of five judges will deliver verdicts for more than four dozen men charged with aggravated rape and sexual assault on Ms Pelicot.
Dominique Pelicot, the now ex-husband of the 72-year-old grandmother, is among the men on trial.
He admitted that for years, he drugged his wife of 50 years out so he and strangers he recruited online could abuse her while he filmed the assaults.
Dominique, also 72, and 50 other men were tried in Avignon for aggravated rape and attempted rape and face up to 20 years imprisonment if convicted.
Watch here:
Live: Gisele Pelicot speaks out after mass rape trial verdicts including husband
Welcome to the live blog
08:16 , Alex Croft
Good morning and welcome to our live blog.
We’ll bring all the latest as the verdict is set to be delivered on 51 men accused of the raping Gisele Pelicot, in a case which has horrified the world.
Ms Pelicot has arrived at the court in Avignon to crowds of supporters waving signs reading ‘Thank you Gisele’ and ‘Justice for Gisele Pelicot’.