Tears of a Monster: ‘Devil of Avignon’ Sentenced to 20 Years, All 51 Men Found Guilty in Shocking Wife Rape Scheme.
The notorious ex-husband of Gisèle Pelicot, known as the Devil of Avignon, broke down in tears as he was convicted on all counts and sentenced to 20 years in a shocking rape case that sent shockwaves around the globe.
Dominique, 72, a serial rapist, now faces the prospect of dying behind bars after confessing to luring numerous strangers to assault his drugged wife, Gisèle, who remained unaware of the horrific events for years.
All 51 defendants, including Dominique, were found guilty in court, with sentences reaching up to 15 years for his accomplices. Investigators uncovered a staggering 92 rapes involving 72 men, with 51 of them identified, in this disturbing case that has shaken France to its core. In total, 47 men were convicted of rape, while two were found guilty of attempted rape and two of sexual assault.
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Gisèle leaned her head against the courtroom wall upon hearing her ex-husband's sentence, as her family exchanged hushed words. She made eye contact with each defendant as their verdicts were announced. Jean-Pierre Marechal, 63, was the second individual to receive a verdict, found guilty of both attempted and aggravated rape against his own wife, resulting in a 12-year sentence. In a chilling imitation of Dominique, he drugged his wife for five years, assaulted her, and even invited Dominique to participate. One of the youngest co-defendants, Charly Arbo, 30, was also found guilty of aggravated rape.
Many others received sentences that sometimes exceeded twelve years, although several were less than what the prosecutors had requested. A line of prison vans was stationed outside the courthouse, prepared to transport the men following the conclusion of the sentencing. Images captured Gisèle arriving at the Avignon courthouse earlier today, where she entered with a defiant smile. Supporters gathered outside the court to rally behind her, as the French grandmother has emerged as a symbol of resilience in recent months after bravely sharing her harrowing story.
Numerous women have congregated outside the courthouse during the hearings to show their support for her, and the case has even ignited discussions about potential legal reforms in France. One of the defendants was spotted concealing his identity with a mask, baseball cap, and hood as he entered the building.
Dominique and his fifty co-defendants were present to hear the verdicts and sentences, seated in a glass enclosure within the courtroom. Gisèle sat beside her youngest son, Florian, with lawyers in black robes positioned around the family. The trial, which took place in a quiet French town, shocked the nation as it unveiled how Dominique portrayed himself as a devoted husband to Gisèle, whom he married in 1971, and a caring father to their three children.
However, behind closed doors, he drugged, raped, and enlisted men to assault his wife for nearly a decade, from 2011 to 2020. Dominique's depraved accomplices appeared to be ordinary individuals, including a gardener, a farm driver, a tradesman, and a retired firefighter, who would assault Gisèle before returning to their daily routines.
Dominique was initially arrested in September 2020 for covertly filming up women’s skirts at a supermarket in Carpentras. While in custody, he revealed the existence of a hard drive concealed under a printer, containing a file labeled "Abuses" that held 20,000 images and videos depicting the assaults on his wife.
The incredibly courageous Gisèle endured over three months of distressing testimony during the trial. This included showing excerpts from Pelicot's collection of homemade abuse videos and images in court. Heroic Gisèle testified: "They treated me like a rag doll, like a trash bag." Meanwhile, the disturbed Dominique admitted: "I am a rapist, like the others in this room," and expressed that he might "die alone like a dog."
When he spoke for the first time in court in Avignon, he stated: “I am guilty of what I did – I apologize to my wife, my children, my grandchildren. “I regret my actions and seek forgiveness, even if it’s beyond forgiveness.” He added: “She [Gisèle] didn’t deserve this.” Dominique claimed he experienced abuse during his childhood and alleged that he was forced to witness the gang rape of a woman at the age of 14 while working as a construction apprentice.
The disturbed individual remarked: “You are not born a pervert; you become one.” JUSTICE IN COURT Gisèle Pelicot opted to forgo her right to anonymity, allowing the full details of the case to be publicly disclosed. Her remarkable bravery has inspired thousands to rally behind her, although Gisèle mentioned that she didn’t intend to spark a national discussion.
Instead, her decision for an open courtroom was to avoid being confined in a room with her alleged abuser. However, she began receiving messages from numerous supporters. Her lawyer, Stéphane Babonneau, stated: "When she started getting these letters, she felt a sense of responsibility for victims who had endured similar experiences."
Pelicot's 'Students
Dominique reportedly instructed numerous men on how to avoid waking Gisèle during their assaults at night. These instructions included avoiding aftershave or cigarette smells, ensuring all men had neatly trimmed nails, and other details. After parking a short distance from the couple's residence, the attackers would change clothes in the kitchen to prevent leaving any garments behind in the bedroom. It appears that Dominique was concerned about leaving clothing that might raise his wife's suspicions regarding the terrible abuse she was allegedly enduring. Prosecutors claim he participated in the rapes, recorded them, and encouraged the other men with degrading remarks. No financial transactions were involved.
Defendants' Denials
The accused rapists, aged between 21 and 68, include a forklift operator, a firefighter, a business owner, and a journalist. Some were single, while others were married, divorced, or had families.
While most participated only once, some allegedly took part up to six times. Some of the defendants, including Dominique, admitted to the rapes, but many denied their involvement, even when confronted with video evidence.
A few argued that Dominique's consent implied Gisèle's consent as well. Others attempted to justify their actions by claiming they did not intend to commit rape when they accepted Dominique's invitations. Some defendants shifted the blame onto Dominique, suggesting he misled them into believing they were engaging in consensual activities. Others even speculated that he might have drugged them, a claim he denied.
Pont Saint Benezet bridge and Rhone river aerial panoramic view in Avignon. Avignon is a city on the Rhone river in southern France.
Daughter - Caroline
In court, Caroline referred to her father as one of the “most notorious sexual predators” in recent history. Police found semi-nude photographs of Dominique's daughter in his “abuses” file.
In the heart-wrenching book "And I Stopped Calling You Father," Caroline shares her journey of grappling with the aftermath of her father's heinous actions. She vividly recounts the sense of betrayal that washed over her upon learning about the alleged abuse she endured. When confronted with photographs taken by her father, she found it difficult to recognize her own image.
Caroline expressed, “The sheets seemed familiar in a vague way, but that was all. I kept insisting that I didn’t see myself in those pictures. "
“No, that’s not me, I said.”
It was only when she spotted a unique mole on her right cheek that the realization hit her—it was indeed a photo of her.
Caroline pondered, “How could he have taken my picture in the dead of night without waking me?
“Did he also drug me? Even more terrifying, did he violate me?”
In response to this shocking case, protesters in France are demanding legal reforms. Currently, in France, the determination of guilt in rape cases does not hinge on consent.
Instead, the prosecution must establish that the perpetrator had the intent to commit rape. Many defendants argue that they did not arrive at the Pelicot residence with the aim of sexually assaulting Gisèle. Additionally, there has been backlash against the defense attorneys, who have questioned Gisèle's own intentions, even suggesting whether she had ever entertained the idea of swinging.
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The sentencing of Dominique, the "Devil of Avignon," to 20 years in prison marks the end of a horrific chapter for Gisèle Pelicot and the many victims involved. This shocking case, which exposed the depths of manipulation, cruelty, and abuse, has ignited a national conversation about legal reforms in France. Gisèle’s bravery in publicly sharing her story has turned her into a symbol of resilience, while also shedding light on the need for change in how rape and consent are handled in the courtroom. The case serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing fight for justice and victims' rights.
