Dominique Pelicot and 50 Others Convicted in Shocking Rape Case

Dominique Pelicot, along with 50 other men, has been convicted of rape in a horrifying case that spanned nearly a decade. Pelicot orchestrated a scheme where he drugged his wife, Gisèle, and invited numerous men to assault her while she was unconscious.

He organized the assaults through an online chat forum, explicitly informing participants that Gisèle would be incapacitated. The group, called "à son insu" (French for "without her knowledge"), facilitated these acts. Pelicot was sentenced to the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for his crimes.

After the court's decision, Gisèle Pelicot expressed no regret for making the trial public, stating she wanted society to "see what was happening." Outside the courthouse in Avignon, supporters gathered to applaud her courage, holding signs that read, "Merci Gisèle."