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Pelicot trial: crowds cheer as husband found guilty in rape case
STORY: :: Crowds cheer as Dominique Pelicot is found guilty in a mass rape trial:: Avignon, France:: December 19, 2024:: The Pelicot case has shocked the world and turned Gisele Pelicot into a symbol of courage and resilienceA panel of judges also convicted a first batch of 20 out of 50 co-defendants in the case, dismissing claims by some of them that they thought they were taking part in a consensual sex game or that Pelicot’s consent meant the Frenchman’s wife, Gisele Pelicot, also agreed.The presiding judge told the court that sentencing would be announced after all the verdicts had been delivered.Prosecutors have demanded a term of 20-year prison term for Pelicot.Prosecutors are also seeking terms of between four and 18 years for the other defendants, almost all of whom are accused of raping the comatose Gisele Pelicot.Dominique Pelicot, 72, pleaded guilty to the charges during the three-month trial and apologized to his family. He also said that all the strangers he invited into his house knew that his now ex-wife was unaware of what was happening to her.Gisele, who is also 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.