By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-12-19 09:31:39 | Updated at 2024-12-19 11:49:54
2 hours ago
A French court found Dominique Pelicot guilty on Thursday of repeatedly drugging and raping his wife for almost a decade, and inviting dozens of strangers to rape her unconscious body in their home.
A 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 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 50 defendants, almost all of whom are accused of raping the comatose Pelicot.
A cheer went up outside the court in the southern French city of Avignon among the victim’s supporters when news of the first guilty verdicts filtered out.
