Dominique Pelicot sentenced to 20 years in prison over mass rape of wife

A French court found Dominique Pelicot guilty on Thursday of drugging and raping his wife, Gisele Pelicot, over nearly a decade.

Pelicot, 72, was sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison, as requested by prosecutors.

Alongside him, 50 other defendants were convicted, with 46 found guilty of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault.

Their sentences ranged from 3 to 15 years in prison, which was less than the four-to-18 years requested by the prosecution.

Gisele Pelicot, who is also 72, waived her right to anonymity and sat in the courtroom throughout the three-month trial. Her testimony, courage, and determination to bring her abusers to justice have made her a symbol of strength.

The abuse began when Dominique Pelicot, her husband of 50 years, drugged Gisele with powerful tranquilizers that left her unconscious for hours. Pelicot then invited dozens of men to sexually assault her while she was unconscious.

Gisele, unaware of the extent of the abuse, initially feared she was developing Alzheimer's or a brain tumor due to memory lapses caused by the drugs.

Gisele Pelicot, demanded that graphic videos documenting the abuse she suffered, which were recorded by her ex-husband, be shown in court.

She explained that her goal in allowing the disturbing footage to be presented was to help raise awareness and encourage other women who have experienced similar trauma to speak out.

By sharing her own painful story, Gisele hoped to inspire others to break their silence and seek justice.