Pelicot’s ex-husband jailed 20 years in France mass rape trial

AVIGNON, France: A court on Thursday sentenced a French man to 20 years jail for committing and orchestrating the mass rapes of his now former wife Gisele Pelicot with dozens of strangers, but her children expressed disappointment at what they saw as overly-lenient sentences for the other men convicted.

The convictions of all 51 defendants and their sentencing brought to a close a three-month trial that has horrified France, resonated across the world and turned Gisele Pelicot into an icon of female courage.

Dominique Pelicot, who had already confessed to the crimes, was earlier found guilty by the court in the southern city of Avignon. His 50 co-defendants were also convicted by the court, with no acquittals.

They received jail terms of between three and 15 years -- less than what prosecutors had demanded. Two of these defendants had their jail terms suspended.

The three Pelicot children “are disappointed by these low sentences,” said a family member, asking not to be identified, adding that there was “no question” of any of the children wanting to speak to their father after the conviction.

Tension was palpable in the courtroom at the start of the hearing, where a heavy police presence was deployed.