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1 month ago

Gisèle Pelicot rape trial latest: Security guard who caught Dominique says he saw ‘fear in his eyes’

Ms Pelicot’s ex-husband Dominique Pelicot admitted to drugging and raping her for almost a decade

Barney Davis,Jabed Ahmed
Friday 20 December 2024 13:36 GMT
Gisèle Pelicot was swarmed as she arrived at the Avignon courthouse

The security guard who caught Dominique Pelicot upskirting women at a supermarket, which led to the discovery of his heinous crimes, has recalled the “terror” and “fear” in his eyes.

Thibaut Rey, 38, spotted the serial rapist taking images of three women at the LeClerc shopping centre and confronted him, holding his phone until police arrived to make their arrest.

“Pelicot didn’t resist. He froze with terror. I saw the fear in his eyes,” he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron has praised Pelicot’s wife and mass rape victim Gisèle for her dignity and courage which has “moved and inspired France and around the world”.

It comes as her children condemn the “low” sentences in France’s most shocking rape case which saw 51 men convicted for a total of 428 years.

Ex-husband Dominique Pelicot wept as he was convicted and jailed for the maximum term of 20 years, after he admitted he drugged his wife so he and strangers could abuse her while he filmed it.

1 month ago

‘The world is no longer the same thanks to you’ - president of National Assembly

The president of France’s National Assembly has issued words of support for Gisèle Pelicot.

She wrote on X: “Thank you for your courage Gisèle Pélicot. Through you, it is the voice of so many victims that carries today, the shame that changes sides, the taboo that is broken.

“The world is no longer the same thanks to you.”

Alex Croft19 December 2024 11:45
1 month ago

Jean-Pierre Marechal: Dominique Pelicot imitator sentenced to 12 years

Jean-Pierre Marechal was found guilty of the attempted rape and aggravated rape of his own wife, and of drugging her.

Marechal was sentenced to 12 years in prison, after admitting to following Dominique Pelicot’s lead by drugging his own wife for five years.

He raped his wife, and invited Pelicot to rape her.

Marechard’s lawyer, Patrick Fontard, said his client would not be appealing the verdict, but that his client could be free in three years time.

Alex Croft19 December 2024 11:41
1 month ago

‘Thank you, Madame’: Gisèle Pelicot on L’Humanité front cover

Alex Croft19 December 2024 11:28
1 month ago

Comment | Gisèle Pelicot’s daughter is dealing with unimaginable horror – as do all ‘forgotten victims’

By now, Gisèle Pelicot is a household name – for all the wrong and most tragic of reasons.

Since September – when she bravely waived anonymity and testified against her husband Dominique – horrific details of how he drugged her, raped her and facilitated her rape by at least 50 other men have slowly come to light.

She has faced her abusers throughout the trial in Avignon, France, attending almost every court date. She has spoken of how “broken” she is and how her decision to be named was to help shift the shame felt by victims of rape and place it rightly on the assailants’ shoulders.

“I am a woman who is totally destroyed, and I don’t know how I’m going to rebuild myself. I’m 72 soon and I’m not sure my life will be long enough to recover from this,” she said of the abuse that spanned nine years.

Emma Clarke writes:

Alex Croft19 December 2024 11:20
1 month ago

Watch: Men were ‘puppets’ of Dominique Pelicot, lawyer says

Men were 'puppets' of Dominique Pelicot, lawyer says
Alex Croft19 December 2024 11:15
1 month ago

51 men sentenced to 428 years in prison - report

The 51 men accused in France’s largest mass rape trial have been sentenced to a total of 428 years, according to French outlet Le Monde.

Of the 51 found guilty - which includes Dominique Pelicot - 47 were convicted of rape, two of attempted rape and two of sexual assault.

Alex Croft19 December 2024 11:08

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