French women call for legislation against sexual violence after rape Gisèle PelicotRead also
Co-suspects
The man is on trial with fifty co-suspects, who could be identified based on video footage that the man himself made of the rapes. Prosecutors began determining the sentencing requirements on Monday and have until Wednesday to impose them on all suspects.
Most of the suspects claim that they did not realize that Gisèle had been drugged and that they had no intention of raping her, even though there is video footage of the rapes. They shift the blame entirely to Dominique, who allegedly manipulated them.
Gisele Pelicot
The case has received a lot of attention worldwide. Gisèle could have chosen to have the trial take place behind closed doors, but deliberately chose a public trial to show what kind of sexual violence had taken place. In France, thousands of people took to the streets to support Gisèle.
Gisèle also spoke during the trial. “How could you let all those people into my bedroom? How could you betray me like that?”, Gisèle said to Dominique Pelicot. “I am a completely devastated woman. How should I overcome this? I’m 72 and I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that in the years I have left.” She also addressed other victims who feel ashamed after a rape: “Shame is not ours to feel, it is theirs.”
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