Prosecutors Seek 20-Year Sentence in Shocking Mass Rape Case

French prosecutors are demanding a 20-year prison sentence for Dominique Pelicot, accused of orchestrating a decade-long abuse scheme against his former wife, Gisèle Pelicot. In an incendiary trial unfolding in Avignon, authorities claim Pelicot drugged Gisèle and invited around 50 men to sexually assault her, provoking widespread outrage and discussion around coercive sexual practices. Prosecutor Laure Chabaud emphasized the gravity of Mr. Pelicot's actions, stating a 20-year sentence— the maximum under French law— is warranted but still insufficient against the scale of his offenses.

Gisèle Pelicot, who has shown immense bravery by waiving her anonymity throughout the trial, has become a focal point in this harrowing case. Her presence in the courtroom has prompted a societal reckoning on the issues of consent and the implications of 'chemical submission' in sexual violence. Many accused in the case have denied wrongdoing, insisting they were unaware of Gisèle's incapacitation. Prosecutors maintain no reasonable individual could misconstrue the situation as consensual.

Prime Minister Michel Barnier highlighted the trial as a watershed moment for combating violence against women, proposing new government measures including funding for drug-testing kits to thwart chemical submission. With closing arguments set to unfold in the coming weeks, the case continues to dominate discourse around sexual violence in France.