A court in Avignon, France, is hearing the case of Gisèle Pelicot, who alleges she was drugged and raped by her husband and numerous accomplices. The trial highlights the prevalence of sexual violence and the challenges of prosecuting such cases.
Gisèle Pelicot, who prosecutors say was drugged by her then-husband so that men could rape her as she lay unconscious, leaves the courthouse in Avignon, southern France , on Oct. 16, 2024. Dominique Pelicot found it easy to recruit his alleged accomplices. Many had jobs. Most are fathers. They came from all walks of life, with the youngest in his 20s and the oldest in their 70s. In all, 50 men, including Dominique Pelicot, stood trial for aggravated rape and attempted rape.
Another man was tried for aggravated sexual assault. Sifting through the charges, the evidence, the backgrounds of the accused and their defenses took so long that Dominique and Gisèle Pelicot had birthdays during the trial, with both turning 72. The verdicts are expected Thursday, or Friday at the latest, with the five judges ruling by secret ballot. Campaigners against sexual violence are hoping for protests during the trial, demonstrators held up pop-art images of Gisèle Pelicot with her bob haircut and round sunglasses, along with slogans such as, “Shame is changing sides” and “Gisèle, we believe you !” They also booed defendants as they entered the courthouse yelling, “We recognize you” and “Shame.” Dominique Pelicot’s meticulous recording and cataloguing of the encounters — police found more than 20,000 photos and videos on his computer drives, in folders titled “abuse,” “her rapists” or “night alone” — provided police investigators with an abundance of evidence and helped lead them to the defendants. That also set the case apart from many others in which sexual violence is unreported or isn’t prosecuted because the evidence isn’t as stron
SEXUAL ASSAULT RAPE FRANCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRIAL
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