In Avignon, at the Pelicot trial, the pleadings ended on Friday December 13 at midday. It marks the end of this trial which has lasted for almost four months. Dominique Pelicot is accused of having drugged his wife to rape her and have her raped by dozens of men for at least 10 years. On Monday, the accused will speak one last time before the verdict, which will be delivered at the end of the week. For several weeks, the lawyers of Dominique Pelicot’s 50 co-accused took the stand, and the Court will have to take a position on the intentionality of the rapes.
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Aged 26 to 74 and from all social backgrounds, 51 men have been on trial since September 2 in Avignon for aggravated rape or sexual assault on Gisèle Pelicot, 72, drugged by her now ex-husband, Dominique Pelicotwho recruited these strangers on the internet and invited them to the family home then meticulously photographed and filmed the sexual acts.
There is no crime without the intention to commit it. It is on this pillar of criminal law that the defense relied during the Mazan rape trial. Acquittal was pleaded for around thirty defendants. According to their lawyers, they did not know they were committing rape and therefore cannot be found guilty. By going to Mazan, they thought they were participating in a simple libertine game, recalls our correspondent in Avignon, Tanita Fallet.
THE ” monster » Dominique Pelicot
Conversely, during her indictment, Advocate General Laure Chabaud emphasized lack of consent by Gisèle Pelicot, insisting: “ In 2024 we can no longer say: “Since she didn’t say anything, she agreed,” it’s from another age “.
The person responsible is Dominique Pelicot. During these two weeks, he was described as a liar, a manipulator who allegedly misled the discernment of these men. Defense lawyers castigated a trial which placed Dominique Pelicot’s words as absolute truth, instead of listening to the version of the 50 co-defendants.
“ I defend men who are the normality of this society and Mr. Pelicot is the exception, he is someone dangerous. We have a monster in the box “, declared Me Nadia El Bouroumi, one of the last lawyers to speak. Other defenders have portrayed Dominique Pelicot in recent weeks as “ a wolf ” Or ” an ogre “.
The defense has not really evolved since the start of the trial and cannot digest the requisitions, considered too heavy. They range from 4 years’ imprisonment for sexual assault to 18 years’ imprisonment for aggravated rape.
These arguments will have to be compared with the video evidence provided to convince the Court, which will deliberate on Monday, December 16.
Also readMazan affair: the hearing of the 51 accused of raping Gisèle Pelicot is coming to an end