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
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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.
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Every word of Gisele Pelicot’s statement outside courtroom where 51 men were sentenced for abusing her- As her husband is jailed for his heinous crimes, we must ask: how many more Gisèle Pelicots are there?
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The forgotten victim?
Dominique Pelicot was also found guilty of taking indecent images of his daughter, Caroline Darian, and his daughters-in-law, Aurore and Celine.
Caroline - who was in court on Thursday - previously told the trial she felt she was the “forgotten victim” as, unlike in her mother’s case, there was no record of the abuse she is convinced was inflicted on her.
Dominique denied drugging and abusing his daughter.
“I will never come see you and you will die alone like a dog,” she shouted at him in court.
Watch: Gisèle Pelicot mobbed by supporters as she leaves court after mass rape trial verdict
Every word of Gisele Pelicot’s statement outside courtroom
Every word of Gisele Pelicot’s statement after 51 men sentenced for abusing her
Macron says Gisèle Pélicot has ‘moved and inspired’ France and the world
French President Emmanuel Macron has praised Gisèle Pélicot for her dignity and courage, and thanked her following her husband’s trial, which has shocked the world.
In a post on social media, he wrote: “Thank you Gisèle Pélicot.
“For this word of justice in the name of which you faced the ordeal with your head held high. For women, who forever have a scout to speak and fight for.
“For all of us, because your dignity and your courage have moved and inspired France and the world.”
How Gisèle Pelicot shamed ‘Mr Everyman’ during the rape trial which shocked the world
How Gisèle Pelicot shamed ‘Mr Everyman’ during the rape trial which shocked the world
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Who received the longest jail terms in the Gisèle Pelicot rape trial?
Gisèle Pelicot’s ex-husband Dominique was sentenced for repeatedly drugging and raping his wife for almost a decade, and inviting dozens of strangers to rape her unconscious body
The court found 46 of the other defendants guilty of rape, two guilty of attempted rape and two guilty of sexual assault, handing down sentences of between three and 15 years in jail, less than the four-to-18 years demanded by the prosecution.
Among them is Jean-Pierre Marechal who has been jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of attempted rape and aggravated rape of his wife, as well as drugging her.
He is only one of the 51 who was not accused of raping or attempting to rape Gisèle, but the 63-year-old admitted to following Dominique Pelicot’s lead by drugging his own wife for five years, raping her and inviting Dominique to rape her too.
All the defendants have 10 days to decide whether to appeal, and Dominique Pelicot’s lawyer said he was considering this option.
Watch: Gisèle Pelicot speaks for first time after historic mass rape trial verdict
Youngest man to rape Giséle Pelicot committed the horrific crime on the day his daughter was born
Youngest man to rape Giséle Pelicot committed the crime on day his daughter was born
Gisele Pelicot's Australian supporters are moved that their French heroine wore an Aboriginal scarf
A group of Gisele Pelicot’s Australian admirers have said they’re moved that the victim in France’s drugging-and-rape case has acknowledged her distant supporters Down Under by wearing a scarf adorned with Aboriginal art.
The 72-year-old who refused to remain an anonymous victim wore the silk scarf several times during the court process in Avignon, including when 51 men were convicted and sentenced to prison for molesting her after she had been drugged by her former husband, Dominique Pelicot.
The scarf was a 220 Australian dollar (£109) gift from a Sydney-based rights advocacy group, Older Women’s Network, its chief executive Yumi Lee said.
“We were astounded, absolutely gobsmacked, honored that she accepted our gesture of solidarity,” Ms Lee said.
Ms Lee, 59, said her group with 1,000 members across New South Wales state in Australia, who campaign on issues including sexual violence, raised donations to buy the scarf in September when the court case was already underway.
They decided on the gesture because Avignon, 11,000 miles from Sydney, was too distant for most to travel to demonstrate their support in person, Ms Lee said.
Gisele Pelicot “has said that shame has to change sides and she wants all the victims of sexual assault to think that if she can do it, they can too,” Ms Lee said.
“She has also proven that sexual assault knows no barriers. Everyone from young to old are victims of sexual assault. So she’s busted that myth.”