Trial of 51 Men for Drug-Facilitated Rape Nears Verdict in France
Dominique Pelicot and 50 co-defendants face charges of aggravated rape in a case involving the systematic drugging and assault of Pelicot's ex-wife over seven years.
- Dominique Pelicot is accused of orchestrating the drugging and repeated rape of his ex-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, by at least 50 men he recruited online between 2013 and 2020.
- The trial, held in Avignon, has spanned three months, with the verdict expected by December 20, 2024.
- Pelicot has admitted to his crimes, claiming a history of personal trauma and frustrations drove his actions, while many co-defendants deny intent or knowledge of the drugging.
- Defense attorneys argue that several accused men were misled by Pelicot into believing the assaults were consensual acts within a libertine setting.
- Prosecutors have requested sentences ranging from 4 to 20 years, with Pelicot facing the maximum penalty for his central role in the crimes.
Libération 
Le Journal du Dimanche 
Sud Ouest 