PARIS: A French court on Thursday awarded Dominique Pelicot 20 years jail sentence in a case of drugging and raping his wife, Gisele Pelicot, over nearly a decade.
Pelicot, 72, was found guilty of not only rape charges but inviting dozens of strangers to rape his unconscious wife in their home.
Prosecutors have sought a term of 20 years in prison, in the case that has shaken the world and turned the victim, Gisele Pelicot, into a symbol of courage and resilience.
Prosecutors are also seeking jail terms of between four and 18 years against a further 50 defendants, almost all of whom are accused of raping Pelicot.
Dominique Pelicot pleaded guilty to the charges during the three-month trial while offering an apology.
Many of his fellow defendants, denied rape charges, saying they thought they were taking part in a consensual sex game arranged by the couple and arguing that it wasn’t rape if the husband approved.
Pelicot has dismissed misleading the men, who came from all walks of life, saying they knew that Gisele now his ex-wife was unconscious and unaware of what was happening to her.
The victim during the trial demanded that videos of mass rape recorded by her former husband should be seen in court, hoping this would help other women stand up for their rights.
The trial sparked protest rallies across France in support of Gisele, while the right activists sought an update on France’s rape law.
“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. Agencies
